Woman hit by fallen branch at Cantigny dies from injuries

An 83-year-old woman has died from her injuries after a large tree branch fell and hit her earlier this month at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, authorities said.

Mildred Hetmanski of Crete died Tuesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital due to multiple injuries from the fallen branch, a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office said.

The branch, which was estimated at between 80 and 100 feet long, fell June 8 from a bur oak tree on the east side of the McCormick Museum, according to McCormick Foundation spokesman Phil Zepeda.

It hit three people, including two who were taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Zepeda has said the future of the tree is uncertain. The tree is around 300 years old.

Zepeda called the fallen branch an "isolated incident" and said the park's horticulture department regularly reviews the health of the trees on the property to prevent accidents.