Fallen tree kills golfer at Mill Creek Course in Boardman, Ohio

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – Police have identified a golfer who died Saturday morning on one of the courses at Mill Creek Metropark.

The victim is Boardman’s Brian Costantini, 35.

He and his brother-in-law, Jordan Hardwick, 35, were in a golf cart when a large tree fell.

Commission firefighters were on the scene in just three minutes, but they knew they had their hands full when they arrived at Mill Creek Park’s North Course on Saturday morning.

“Two people in a golf cart. One of the victims was able to escape from the golf cart, but the other was still trapped under a tree inside the golf cart,” said Assistant Officer Rob John. said.

The incident occurred on the 17th hole of the course. Due to the weight of the fire engine, employees used other golf carts to carry the crew and equipment to the scene.

“I estimate the tree weighs about 20,000 pounds,” John said.

Firefighters said the tree was 36 inches in diameter at its base and over 100 feet tall. It was completely destroyed, including the roots.

While waiting for the coroner’s arrival, the course workers brought a large backhoe into the pit and attempted to lift the tree from the cart.

“But the backhoe loader itself couldn’t even lift the tree. It was big,” John said.

One of the victims initially refused treatment at the course. It took him nearly two hours before he released another victim.

Constantini was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said there were many speculations about the fallen tree in the accident, but firefighters said most of the rumors were untrue, including that the tree was in poor condition before the accident. I don’t think so.

“At any point where we cut the tree down, there was absolutely no rot or anything like that. It looked like a perfectly healthy tree,” John said.

According to Aaron Young, Executive Director of Mill Creek Metropark, “Throughout Metropark, trees that appear dead and pose a danger to park visitors have been removed. But in this case: The tree was still alive when it fell.”