A 56-year-old woman identified as Lucrecia Cardozo lost her life this Monday in Miramar, in Broward County, after falling from a mango tree located in the yard of her own home.
The woman -whose nationality has not been disclosed- fell while picking fruit, according to the Miramar Police, as confirmed to CBS News Miami.
The accident occurred in the Grand Caye subdivision of the Silver Lakes Phase 3 community, near Southwest 176 Avenue and Southwest 21 Street, west of Interstate 75.
According to the authorities, Cardozo reportedly used a ladder to reach the mangoes when he lost his balance and fell, suffering injuries that became fatal.
The ladder remained in place after the incident.
It was a neighbor who found her lying on the ground next to the tree and called 911.
His family, including his 16-year-old daughter, was inside the house at that time and did not witness the fall.
What the investigation revealed
Miramar Police detectives spent much of Monday at the scene, while the Chopper 4 helicopter flew overhead.
The body of Cardozo remained covered with a tarp next to the tree during the investigation proceedings.
The police spokeswoman Janice McIntosh dismissed any signs of a crime and described the incident as an accident.
“Remember that accidents happen”, McIntosh stated.
"Here we have this woman who was picking mangoes from her tree, fell, and succumbed to her injuries. This was completely innocent. She was picking mangoes and fell," he added.
Cardozo's ex-husband confirmed to the media that she lived in the house with her teenage daughter, and that the family is "in shock" over the sudden loss.
The relatives did not wish to make any public statements.
A neighbor remembered for her generosity
Those who knew Lucrecia Cardozo describe her as a kind-hearted and generous person. Longtime neighbor Ryan Raymond nostalgically recalled how she used to share mangoes from the same tree among the families in the neighborhood.
"When she came by, it was a very sweet gesture, simply giving away mangos from the big trees in her yard," said Raymond. "My brother loved mangos. He was so happy. When she passed by here, she was very kind."
The tree that for years was a symbol of generosity and unity in the Grand Caye community was marked by tragedy.
The warning from the authorities
Authorities took the opportunity to issue a public alert regarding the risks of collecting fruit from trees, a very common practice in South Florida during mango season, which in 2026 extended into late July and August.
McIntosh urged residents to take extra precautions: "We want people to be careful with stairs and with power lines near trees, as they can pose a danger."
Another official added, "Be careful. There could be power lines, anything; be cautious when picking mangoes. Keep an eye on your children and the height of the trees. We express our condolences to the family, but accidents can happen at any time."
Falls are the leading cause of death from injuries in Florida, with approximately 2,700 fatalities and over 67,800 hospitalizations annually related to this type of accidents, according to the state's Department of Health.
Miramar, a city in Broward County with a Hispanic population of around 41%, is a community where the tradition of cultivating and harvesting mangoes in backyards is deeply rooted. Just three days before the accident, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office had published a video reminding people of the fines for picking fruit from someone else's private property without permission, although in this case, Cardozo was harvesting mangoes from his own tree.
The police investigation remains open as authorities work to precisely determine the circumstances surrounding the fall.
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