5-year-old boy dies after falling tree splits home in half, Georgia fire officials say
Strong winds sent a tree toppling onto an Atlanta-area home, killing a 5-year-old boy inside, multiple news outlets report.
The deadly incident occurred Jan. 3 in DeKalb County just after 5 a.m., WGCL reported, citing county fire officials. The tree crashed through the middle of the house, splitting it in half.
Crews were able to rescue the boy’s mother, who was uninjured, according to WAGA. Those who responded to the scene recalled hearing her screams from inside the home.
McClatchy News reached out to the DeKalb County Fire Department on Jan. 3 and was awaiting a response.
Severe storms brought heavy rain that soaked much of metro Atlanta over the weekend, and a wind advisory remained in effect for the region through mid-morning Monday. Winds gusts of 40 to 50 mph were possible, according to the National Weather Service.
Fire officials said the soft ground and windy conditions are likely what caused the tree to come down.
“Overnight, we had pretty good wind,” DeKalb fire department spokesman Capt. Jaeson Daniels told WSB-TV. “All the rain that we’ve been having, the ground has been really soft. Trees are inept to come down at that time.”
Neither the victim or his mother have been officially identified. The incident remains under investigation.
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 11:25 AM with the headline "5-year-old boy dies after falling tree splits home in half, Georgia fire officials say."