Woman Crushed By Falling Branch

PHILADELPHIA - Police say the death of a woman jogging in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park appears to be a freak accident.

It happened along the 7500 block of Forbidden Drive in the city's Roxborough section around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Scott Small, of Philadelphia Police, says a 30-foot-long tree branch fell on the woman from 50 feet above the ground on the Wissahickon Trails.

The woman was killed instantly.

Police say the victim was wearing a iPod, which was still playing when officers arrived, making it possible that she didn't hear the branch breaking.

"A large branch about 30-feet in length that fell, broke off a tree about 50-feet high in the air," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small at the scene. "Head injuries, what appears to be a broken neck and a compound fracture of her right leg. She was killed instantly. She was wearing an iPod and when police responded to the scene, the iPod was still playing music. She appears to be alone. Someone called 9-1-1. However, they didn't stick around for police to arrive."

The woman wasn't carrying identification and police are seeking the public's help in learning who she is.

She's described as a white woman in her 20s or early 30s, about 5'5", 120 pounds, with shoulder-length, curly brown hair. She was wearing a light-grey top and navy Nike shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.