By P.C. Staff
Two Orange County Asian American teenagers were tragically killed on Aug. 14 in Yosemite National Park by a falling tree branch as they were sleeping in their tent while on a camping trip. Dragon Kim, 14, of Tustin, Calif., and Justin Lee, 13, of Irvine, Calif., were identified as the victims.
Kim was entering his sophomore year at Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, a highly acclaimed school of the arts. Lee was entering his freshman year at Northwood High School in Irvine. The two teens were on a camping trip with their families, when the incident happened on the Upper Pines Campground.
During the early morning hours, a branch from an oak tree fell on the two teens, killing Kim and Lee instantly.
According to the National Park Service, both teens died from their injuries by the time Park Rangers arrived on the scene. This is not the first time that someone has died from fallen tree branches in the park. According to Yosemite officials, the reason for the fallen tree branch is under investigation.
A vigil was held on Aug. 18 for the teens at Northwood High School.
