The incident occurred amid heavy rains on Tuesday, Feb. 17
Courtesy LeWanda Joseph
NEED TO KNOW
- Two Disneyland park goers were hit by a fallen tree on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 17
- LeWanda Joseph and her husband were at the park for the final night “Sweethearts Nite,” a Valentine’s Day-themed series of events
- The couple received first aid treatment onsite and suffered minor injuries
Two Disneyland parkgoers were hit by a falling tree amid heavy rains in Southern California.
The incident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 17, Disneyland officials confirmed to PEOPLE. Park officials say that the incident occurred at around 11:40 p.m. on the patio of the park's Plaza Inn restaurant, and that no other guests were seated on the patio because of the rain.
The two individuals received first aid for "minor grazes" and were released, per park officials. The Disney Fire Department responded to assess the situation and worked to clear the tree overnight after it fell.
The incident occurred on the final night of "Sweethearts Nite," a Valentine's Day-themed series of events.
Courtesy LeWanda Joseph
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Photos shared on social media show the large tree fallen over the patio area, with nearby guests wearing rain ponchos.
“My husband and I were the ones hit,” LeWanda Joseph wrote in the comments of the Disneyland Magic Keyholders Facebook group. “The tree fell directly on top of us.”
Courtesy LeWanda Joseph
Joseph, who was visiting from Las Vegas, tells PEOPLE that the tree fell when she and her husband walked up to a Lady and the Tramp-themed photo op, which was set up by the Plaza Inn. The couple were wearing coordinating Lady and the Tramp hats, and were directed to sit at a table for the photo op, based on the film's famous spaghetti scene.
"That was the one photo we really wanted to do," Joseph tells PEOPLE. "Like two seconds after my husband sat down, he heard the tree snap. I just felt it, and I screamed."
Joseph said park employees were "right there" and that cast members and the photographer immediately jumped into action to help the couple. Despite the shock, Joseph says she and her husband only have "soreness" and "a couple of scrapes."
Joseph is a regular Disneyland visitor, and typically goes to the theme park three times a year. She plans to visit again in June.
"I couldn't have anticipated that happening, and I'm just thankful that there weren't any smaller kids or any elderly people sitting there," Joseph said of the incident, adding that park employees were "very attentive right away."
A powerful winter storm swept across Southern California on Tuesday evening, in particular leading to fallen trees, power outages, and flash flood warnings across Los Angeles County, Orange County and Ventura County, according to NBC Los Angeles. Dozens of trees fell in Ventura amid strong winds, per the outlet.
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