A Google software engineer died July 19 after being struck by a falling sequoia branch while hiking one of Yosemite National Park’s busiest trails.
Angela Lin, 29, was walking through the Tuolumne Grove area with her partner David Hua when a large branch suddenly broke off and struck her. Hua said he heard cracking sounds seconds before the branch fell.
Hua immediately performed CPR until park rangers arrived, but paramedics determined Lin likely died on impact from her injuries.
Lin earned her Ph.D. and had worked at Google since 2022. She completed undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley and graduate work at the University of Texas.
The National Park Service confirmed the incident remains under investigation but has not issued a detailed public statement about the fatality.
Hua and Lin’s family are pressing park officials for more information about trail safety protocols and how dangerous trees are identified in high-traffic areas.
The Tuolumne Grove trail attracts thousands of visitors annually, raising concerns about risk assessment procedures for one of Yosemite’s most popular hiking destinations.
