Tree falls at Oakland homeless encampment, 1 person dead

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - A man died on Wednesday night during the storm at an Oakland homeless encampment when a tree fell  on hom, authorities said.

Officials were dispatched to the Caltrans property in the area of Ardley Avenue at the Interstate 580 overcrossing at around 5:30 p.m. 

There, they found the man's body underneath a broken tree.

On Thursday, the Alameda County coroner's bureau identified him as 42-year-old Anthony Rippee.

CHP Officer Eli Davis said the fallen tree was storm-related.

"The individual had a couple of friends come to visit him. They bring him food about once a week. They came to see him," Davis said. "They called 911. Oakland Police Department responded." 

There is a sign on the Caltrans property posted on the chain-link fence that says, "No Dumping, No Parking, No Trespassing." Davis said the area is clearly marked and fenced off. "No one is allowed to be back there and this is one of the reasons why." 

Davis said there was evidence that the man had been at this location for some time.

Bay City News contributed to this report.