Storm topples tree branch, killing grandfather outside his home on Christmas Eve

SAN DIEGO (KFMB) - A powerful winter storm in San Diego turned deadly when a large tree branch fell and killed a grandfather standing outside his home on Christmas Eve. It’s a tragedy that the victim’s family believes could have been prevented if the city listened to their safety concerns.

Strong wind and rain turned deadly in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood on what should have been a joyous day. Roberto Luis, a grandfather, was standing on a street corner just outside his home shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday when a large tree branch suddenly split off and fell on him, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.

“The first tree branch fell. It struck him, knocking him unconscious. Our crews arrived and found him. He had gone into cardiac arrest,” Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Craig Newell said. “They did everything they could. Unfortunately, the tree was too heavy.”

Luis’ family is now grieving and demanding answers. His daughter-in-law, who asked not to be identified on camera, says they are struggling to process the loss in what should have been a joyful time of year.

“How do you go home on Christmas Eve and tell your kids that their grandpa is dead? I still can’t find the words,” she said.

She says Luis was a loving man who was “always helping his family.” But alongside her grief, she expressed anger, saying the family had repeatedly raised concerns about the tree with the city.

“We’ve been complaining to the city about this tree for more than five years, and nothing was ever done,” she said. “I feel like San Diego failed.”

The family believes Luis’ death could have been prevented and hopes sharing their story will lead to accountability and change.

“If he was here, he would want people to know that this is not OK, that that could have been his niece, that could have been his granddaughter, that could have been anybody else’s relative,” his daughter-in-law said.

In a statement, the city said crews performed maintenance on the tree in January 2024, and no concerns or defects were present at that time. The city added it doesn’t have “a record of any maintenance requests for this specific tree.”