A 2-year-old was fatally struck by a falling section of a tree on Saturday. The child (name being withheld) was in the backyard of the Lower Southampton Township family home with his mother and an older sibling when sudden strong winds swept through the area. The tree split, with a section approximately 25-30 feet in length and 8-10 inches in diameter striking the child. The mother and sibling were unharmed.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene after response and evaluation by Lower Southampton Police and Medic 114. The Bucks County Coroner’s Office responded and brought the victim to the Bucks County Forensic Center.
Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck has released the cause of death as head injury. The manner of death is accidental. She said, “This horrible tragedy was an unforeseen act of nature. High winds came in ahead of the thunderstorms and split a tree on the property. It fell without warning, striking the child’s head. My heart goes out to the family as they grieve this unimaginable loss.”
