NEW YORK (WCBS/CNN) – Investigators are trying to determine why a tree in New York’s Central Park fell, sending a mother and her three young boys to the hospital.
Authorities say the massive tree uprooted around 10 a.m. Tuesday, falling on top of Anne Goldman, her 3- and 4-year-old boys and her newborn.
"It started crackling, and it just fell, within seconds,” witness Tammy Jones said.
Goldman instinctually shielded her sons from danger. She was knocked unconscious momentarily when the tree hit her head on its way down, police say.
"She wasn't bleeding. Her eyes were open. She was breathing,” a witness said.
The entire family was pinned under the branches.
Good Samaritans, including Tammy Jones, rushed over and pulled the children out while waiting for police to arrive.
"We were able to pull the branches back and get the 3- and 4-year-old out pretty easily, but then the baby was strapped to her so that took a little bit,” said Tammy’s husband, Jack Jones.
Jack Jones says Goldman asked how her children were as soon as she came to.
"When she came to, that's the first thing she was asking. She didn't know where she was at, but she wanted to know where her kids were,” Jack Jones said.
All four victims were taken to a nearby hospital.
"I just kept telling him it was going to be OK, and I asked if he was OK. He said, ‘Yeah,’ and he kept asking why there were fire trucks here,” Tammy Jones said.
Goldman has a few vertebrae fractures, and her 3-year-old suffered a fractured skull, according to the family. The other two boys were not injured.
Investigators are now left to determine how this happened, saying they will be checking to see if the tree was dead, dying or diseased.
"There's no crazy weather today. It's not windy. There's no lighting. There's no thunder. It was actually a pleasant morning this morning,” said a woman who was jogging in the park.
The Department of Parks and Recreation sent crews to inspect and remove the tree.
Copyright 2017 WCBS, Erin Ade, Anne Monoky Goldman via CNN. All rights reserved.
