2 killed by falling tree limb at Yosemite identified as Orange County teens

TUSTIN, Calif. -- Two minors who died when a limb from an oak tree fell on a tent at a Yosemite Valley Campground early Friday have been identified as high school students from Orange County.

Dragon Kim, 14, and Justin Lee, 15, died around 5 a.m. Friday when the tree fell on their tent at the Upper Pines Campground. A park spokesman said the teens were on a camping vacation with family.

"I heard a loud crash, a loud boom. It almost sounded like a gunshot when it came down. I heard a woman screaming at the top of her lungs and I knew something was wrong," said witness Daniel Moore.

Both teenagers had attended Pioneer Middle School in Tustin and also played water polo together.

"I'm extremely sad and heartbroken to report that Dragon Kim and Justin Lee passed away over the weekend. The whole club sends their thoughts and prayers to the families of this tragedy," the Northwood Water Polo Club posted on Facebook.

Kim was a sophomore at Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, where Lee was set to start next week.

Grief counselors and other personnel will be on hand to offer support at the Tustin Unified School District's schools, according to district spokesman Mark Eliot.

A vigil is set to be held at the pool at Northwood High School, 4515 Portola Pkwy., in Irvine at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Students at Orange County School of the Arts plan to wear red and bring flowers to school on Aug. 25, the first day of class.