ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. -- The day after a tree fell on two unsuspecting hikers in the Rocky Mountain National Park, officials are asking if anything can be done to prevent this kind of accident from happening again.

Park spokesman Larry Frederick said William Hudson and Carl Cox, both 68, were hiking up the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead when "a dead Douglas fir tree, approximately 30 feet from the trail, broke off 15 feet above ground striking both."

The tree crushed Hudson, who died when his head hit a large rock on the right side of the trail. Cox was only slightly injured and ran to call for help.

Rangers removed Hudson's body from the park Tuesday night.

Wednesday morning rangers got a better look at the tree. The 50-foot Douglas fir is believed to have died five to 10 years ago, Frederick said.

Strong winds were reported in the area when the tree fell, officials said. Rangers say the chances of being hit by a falling tree are as likely as being hit by a bolt of lightning.

"There is always inherit risk when you are going to the wilderness, and that's one of them," said Jim Sandborg, a forester for RMNP.

However officials said they do what they can to make trails safe for hikers.

"We cut trees in trailheads and around structures and facilities and parking lots and things to mitigate those types of hazards," said biologist Brian Verhulst.

Verhulst and two other foresters from RMNP removed part of the fallen tree Wednesday for study.

There was speculation the tree was killed by the pine beetle outbreak found throughout the Rocky Mountains.

Forester Patty Shafer said this particular tree was not infected with the infestation, but did say trees killed by the pine beetles do pose a risk to hikers.

"You look around this trail, there's dead trees everywhere along the trail. It's not something we can control," Shafer said.