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Family, friends mourn loss of couple killed by tree in Newcastle

The couple was traveling along Newcastle Golf Club Road on Saturday when a tree fell on their vehicle.

NEWCASTLE, Wash. — The two people killed when a tree fell onto a vehicle in Newcastle over the weekend have been identified.

Joshua Keith Matlock, 35 of Renton, died from blunt force injuries, according to the King County Medical Examiner. His wife, Pauline Matlock, was also killed in the incident.

Around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, a large tree on the south side of Newcastle Golf Club Road fell on top of the vehicle while it was driving, according to the King County Sheriff's Office. The driver and passenger were killed. 

The incident occurred near 155th Avenue SE. 

Matlock's aunt, Helen Mooney, says their passing doesn't seem real.

"A tree falling on their car, what are the odds of that happening and it's just unbelievable," Mooney said. 

Dennis Mooney, Helen's husband, says this could have been prevented because there have been concerns over falling trees in the area before.

"What are their operating procedures for confirming the safety of the road? Looking at that, how frequently do they check?" said Dennis Mooney.

KING 5 reached out to the City of Newcastle and it said this was a tragedy but added it is unaware of any other trees that could fall.

"We want someone to go at least look at the trees and make sure that someone else isn't going to experience this," said Helen Mooney. "They were just incredible people that were taken way too soon."

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