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Fallen Tree Injures 5 In Bryant Park

NEW YORK (CBSNework) -- A tree snapped and crashed down in bustling Bryant Park Friday afternoon, leaving five people injured.

As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the tree came down inside the park, near its southwest corner at 40th Street and Sixth Avenue.

The massive tree broke off about 13 feet up and came down in a Y configuration – leaving two large branches on the ground with several people pinned underneath.

The part of the tree that fell looked to be at least 12 inches in diameter, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.

PHOTOS: Tree Falls In Bryant Park

Witnesses said they ran over to help after hearing a loud cracking sound.

"I was watching guys play chess, and all of a sudden, we were seeing the tree start coming down -- part of a tree – and it hit, and people started yelling and stuff, and there was like three people laying down that was hurt," said Nate Burns of Elizabeth, New Jersey.

"I was actually in the southwestern part, and as I heard the crash, I turned and the tree literally, like, went to the side, and I just picked up my bag, actually ran to the accident, and as I ran, I just took my bag – because, you know, the girl was on the floor. I needed to, you know, be there and help her, and comfort her," added Lyndsay Dore of Jersey City. "And as I got to the accident I just helped her out."

Fallen Tree Injures 5 In Bryant Park

Dore said when she went to help the woman who appeared to be the most seriously injured, she noticed what she believed was a broken arm. There were two others victims on the ground, whom Dore said were not moving.

Dore was seen in a photo putting her hand on the victim's head and comforting her, and putting pressure on the woman's arm and elbow.

"It was very shocking," she said. "She's still in shock now. I'm in shock."

But witness Brian Dortignacq said many people did not offer help.

"A lot of people were just taking pictures," Dortignacq said.

Sources told CBS2 the victims included a 22-year-old woman who was hit by the tree and suffered a broken arm. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center, sources said.

Also taken to Bellevue was a 53-year-old man who suffered minor back and neck injuries, sources said.

Three others were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, including a 26-year-old man who suffered an injury to the right shoulder, a 26-year-old woman whose left foot was hurt, and a 33-year-old woman who suffered injuries to her shoulder and hip, sources said.

None of the injuries were deemed life-threatening or very serious, but the scene left people in the crowded park panicked and scared.

"It's Labor Day weekend, and you know, you want to get out of work early and just relax, and you come to the park, see friends and you know, an accident like this happens," Dore said. "But you know, you could be running in Central Park and a tree falls on you."

CBS2 spoke a tree expert, who said the first step will be to check the tree for decay deep inside it.

"Sometimes it doesn't matter how many times you looked at it," said Bill Logan, president of Urban Arborists. "If this thing is not visible on the surface and you don't have any other indications like a swelling or something, that would indicate you'd better look and see what's going on inside.

Crews took a chainsaw to the tree limbs, cut them up, and carted them away. The park remained open, but there was still a small area cordoned off into the night.

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