Families and environmental advocates discovered nearly a dozen native trees had been cut down. The trees, a threatened species, were found along a highway corridor. A resident who lives nearby thought the scene was strange and caught her attention because the truck did not appear to be city-owned.

The removal of the trees was unauthorized. An environmental group member described the aftermath as unreal and compared it to a dire scene. Further details about the incident are available, including photos of the trees before they were cut down and a statement from the transportation department confirming they did not order the removal.