DENVER -- A Denver retired woman was killed when a snow-laden tree branch fell on her in her front yard Monday morning.

The accident happened in the 3000 block of S. Bellaire Street at about 9:25 a.m.

Firefighters and paramedics were called on a report of an unconscious person hit by a tree branch. They found the woman with severe injuries after the branch, estimated at 8 to 10 inches in diameter, fell onto her.

The woman was rushed to Swedish Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Neighbors have identified her as Ginny McKibben, 73, a former reporter for the Denver Post, the newspaper reported.

A neighbor told investigators that McKibben was walking in her front yard when the branch fell 30 to 40 feet onto her. She may have been looking at another branch that fell a short time earlier, the neighbor said.

Earlier, Xcel Energy had warned homeowners to watch for falling tree branches and also asked that homeowners not try to clear trees near power lines because they might be electrocuted.