2-year-old killed by falling part of tree while in backyard with mom, officials say

A 2-year-old boy was in the backyard with his mom and an older sibling when he was fatally struck by a piece of falling tree, authorities in Pennsylvania said.

“This horrible tragedy was an unforeseen act of nature,” Bucks County Coroner Meredith J. Buck said in a news release. “High winds came in ahead of the thunderstorms and split a tree on the property. It fell without warning, striking the child’s head.”

First responders said they were called to the Lower Southampton Township family home on Saturday, April 22. The toddler was pronounced dead at the house.

Buck determined his cause of death was a head injury.

The section of tree that struck the child was about 25 to 30 feet long and about 8 to 10 inches in diameter, authorities said.

“My heart goes out to the family as they grieve this unimaginable loss,” Buck said.

Lower Southampton Township is about 20 miles northeast of downtown Philadelphia.

This story was originally published April 25, 2023 at 11:13 AM with the headline "2-year-old killed by falling part of tree while in backyard with mom, officials say."