Irish President Michael Higgins to pay respects to Berkeley balcony collapse victims

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- The president of Ireland is visiting Berkeley to pay his respects after June's deadly balcony collapse. President Michael Higgins will meet with first responders and residents who helped victims today.

He'll also join Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates to plant a strawberry tree at MLK Civic Center Park downtown. The tree will be dedicated to victims of the collapse, including five Irish students and a young Irish-American woman from Rohnert Park. The mayor's office says the strawberry tree was chosen because it is native to both Ireland and California.

PHOTOS: Several killed in balcony collapse in Berkeley