Family Sues San Diego After Four-Year-Old Boy Dies From Fallen Tree Branch In Park

The family of a four-year-old boy, Ronan Kerr, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of San Diego after a eucalyptus branch fatally struck him while he was playing in Villa La Jolla Park.

According to the lawsuit, Ronan was playing beside his father, Cathal Kerr, and his seven-year-old brother, Charles, when a 34-foot eucalyptus branch suddenly broke off from 60 feet above and crashed down on them. Despite his father’s desperate attempt to pull the boys to safety, the branch struck Ronan and his father.

Ronan was rushed to the hospital but passed away seven days later from his injuries. His father sustained multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and deep facial lacerations.

Filed on Tuesday, November 11, in San Diego Superior Court, the lawsuit accuses the city and two contractors responsible for tree maintenance of negligence, alleging that the branch that killed Ronan was visibly decayed and poorly maintained.

“The tree’s branches and limbs were large, elongated, heavy, and improperly maintained to the point that it was obvious to a trained eye that the tree would catastrophically fail,” the complaint stated.

The suit also referenced a pattern of similar incidents, citing over 30 recorded cases of falling tree branches since 1983, including fatal and injurious incidents at the San Diego Zoo and UC San Diego campus.

It alleges that the city’s inspection and maintenance procedures were “grossly inadequate” and calls for all hazardous eucalyptus trees in public parks and school grounds to be either removed or properly managed. The family is also demanding that tree inspections and risk assessments be made public.

In a heartfelt obituary, Ronan was remembered as “a bright light in the lives of all who knew him full of heart, humor, and boundless curiosity.” His family described him as a “tender soul” who adored his older brother and took pride in helping those around him.