ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A giant tree toppled over at Disneyland
on Friday, injuring 27 visitors and two workers, a park
spokesman said.

Eighteen people were taken to hospitals, but the injuries were
minor, said Roger Smith, a division chief for the Anaheim Fire
Department. Four children were among the injured, he said.

"They were all cuts, bruises, scratches, things of that
nature ..." spokesman Ray Gomez said after talking to medical
officials late Friday.

He did not know what caused the tree to fall. The tree fell in
Frontierland near the Rivers of America attraction. A food wagon
parked in the area partially broke the fall, Gomez said.

Park visitor Jason Lowe said the area was closed off after the
accident and ambulances and police officers arrived.

"It just crashed," said Valeri Pineda, 18, one of a group of
cheerleaders from Clinton High School in El Paso, Texas, who
were nearby in line at the Golden Horseshoe Review.

"At first we thought it was a ride because we heard people
screaming," said Audrey Heredia, 18, also a cheerleader.

The tree was believed to have been in the park since it opened
and was probably more than 40 years old. The park spokesman said
weather may have been a factor.

"We had very high winds here yesterday. We certainly had some
cleaning to do today but there was no indication there was a
problem," Gomez said.

The accident is the latest in a series of mishaps that have
brought scrutiny to the park.

Three people were injured on rides from September to January,
and a 6-year-old girl had part of her left finger pulled off
when it caught in a toy rifle in January. The toy guns since
have been removed.

In 1998, a Washington state tourist was killed and his wife and
an employee were seriously injured when a cleat used to moor the
Columbia sailing ship ride ripped loose.