SD Man Killed By Falling Tree During Pineapple Express Storm

SAN DIEGO, CA — A man who was killed when a tree branch fell on him in City Heights during stormy conditions on Christmas Eve has been publicly identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

Roberto Ruiz Salmeron, 61, of San Diego, was standing on a sidewalk near the corner of Marlborough Avenue and Wightman Street when a branch broke away and fell on him, the Medical Examiner’s Office stated.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Capt. Jason Shanley said Wednesday, “A tree fell on him and police and fire personnel were able to pull him out from under the tree and provide medical aid, but he succumbed to his injuries.”

The victim was pronounced dead at 11:14 a.m., according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Shanley said part of that same tree also fell on a nearby home, but did not cause any other injuries.

The incident occurred amid high winds that Shanley said contributed to other trees coming down around the city.

The storm, which was expected to abate beginning Friday evening, also brought heavy rainfall to the region and caused power outages that left as many as 10,000 customers without electricity across San Diego County, stretching from Del Mar to Chula Vista.