Falling Redwood Tree Kills California Parents, Leaving 5 Children Behind
Coastal Redwood trees stand at Muir Woods National Monument on August 20, 2013 in Mill Valley, California. A four-year study by the Save the Redwoods League called "the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative" found that due to changing environmental conditions, California's coast redwoods and giant sequoias are experiencing an unprecedented growth surge and have produced more wood over the past century than any other time in their lives. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California parents of five children tragically died after a giant redwood tree fell on top of their car while on a trip to celebrate the wife's birthday.

Fox News reported that a 175-foot redwood tree fell while the couple was driving on a road in Northern California.

These enormous redwoods are referred to as nature's skyscrapers and are thought to be the tallest trees in the world. They can grow as high as 350 feet, according to a LiveScience report. The tallest tree in the world is a redwood named Hyperion.

California Parents and the Accident

California Highway Patrol confirmed that the tragic accident happened on Highway 199, SFGate reported. Highway 199 is located between Crescent City and Hiouchi.

The victims were identified as Jessica and Jake Woodruff of Yreka. The couple was on a road trip to celebrate Jessica's birthday 45th birthday when a redwood tree fell on top of their 2016 Honda. The couple was peacefully riding their car when the tree claimed their lives near Jedediah Smith Redwoods park.

"This was a shocking and unexpected event," said a fundraiser that aims to help the family. The fundraiser added that the couple had left five children who will face a lifetime of expenses independently.

Officer Brandy Gonzales, a spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol located in Crescent City, shared that the incident happened during a nice day without wind. The highway patrol described the incident that took place in the area to be "very unusual."

However, a forecaster from the National Weather Service noted that there were episodes of "gustier winds on the coast." However, the forecaster said that it was only recorded to be 25 miles per hour.

"We have trees everywhere. It's in the middle of redwoods," said Gonzales. Gonzales pointed out that they still have no idea why the redwood tree suddenly fell. He said the incident might have been made by "Mother Nature," making the incident inevitable.

"We are asking that anyone who can support them, please do so, as these children are facing the devastating reality," the fundraiser said. The fundraiser also mentioned that the family affected by the incident was close to each other. And because of the tragedy, their lives will be forever changed.

Redwood Tree

The redwood tree that fell on top of the Woodruffs' car was a giant tree that can live up to 2,000 years. They have lived on the planet for more than 240 million years.

The trees' species once thrived throughout much of the Northern hemisphere. But because of the changes in our planet, they can now only be found on the coast of Central California, stretching up to Southern Oregon.

The lumber from these trees is known to be durable and is valued historically. The California highway where the couple lost their lives was shut down.

It is unclear whether the couple's children are with them or not when the tragedy happened. Police continued to investigate the incident.

WATCH: Two People From Yreka Killed After Tree fell on their car on 199 in Del Norte CA - from KOBI-TV NBC5