Jogger killed by falling tree, iPod survives [Updated]

Look out below!

Tragedy befell a jogger as her iPod drowned out sounds that would have otherwise warned her of impending doom. At 6:35 p.m. on August 6, a yet-to-be-identified female jogger was struck by a tree that fell from about 50 feet above. Sadly, the woman didn’t survive her fractured neck, head injuries and fractured right leg. Surprisingly, her iPod survived as it was still playing music when authorities arrived, and it is assumed that the loud music blocked out any noises the tree made on its way down.

A Philadelphia jogger was killed yesterday by a falling tree when she failed to hear the warning signs of the impending crash over the music from her iPod. But let’s not be hasty and blame the iPod.

via iPod Survives Falling Tree Accident, Is Not to Blame for Owner’s Death – Ipod jogger – Gizmodo.

I’m glad the iPod isn’t being blamed here. Runners, bicyclists and motorcyclists should take heed and turn the volume down a bit when hitting the dangerous streets. If it’s not the sirens of a paramedic, screeching tires of an approaching car, or a bus with an inattentive driver at the wheel, it could very well be a tree.

Update: As this story developed and the woman was identified, fellow True/Slant contributor Kashmir Hill pointed me in the right direction. The victim was 23-year-old Mary Katherine Ladany, a high school teacher new to the Philadelphia area. A math major and recent graduate of Bucknell University, Ladany taught at Dobbins Techical High School in North Philadelphia last year.

It’s so sad that the very young and new-to-the-area Ladany was killed in such a manner. I mean, what are the chances? Even the police at the scene agree that she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.