A safe neighborhood might sometimes have severe implications on the lives of its residents in a shocking turn of events. Trees have been eternally deemed as protectors from hazards, but sometimes, they can be the hazards themselves.
People reported an incident where a 9-year-old girl died when a palm tree landed on her on Sunday while she was playing with friends on the obstacle course strap. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV, ABC affiliate WPBF-TV, and NBC affiliate WPTV-TV reports via People through the official statement of Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office that the deceased girl was playing on the strap that was attached to two palm trees when one of them cracked and fell on her in the Smith Farm gated community in Lake Worth Beach.
According to the Sun Sentinel, acquired via People, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrived at the scene shortly after 6 p.m. after a report of a cardiac arrest in the 6500 block of Marbletree. Reports suggest that along with the critically injured girl, a 9-year-old boy was also taken to Delray Beach Medical Center, while a third person was taken to a local emergency room. The news outlet also reported via People that the 9-year-old girl was ultimately declared dead from the impact of the tree falling on top of her, and the boy, critically injured, is reported to survive.
The girl’s parents told authorities, according to People, that their child, along with a few friends, was playing on the obstacle strip when the incident took place. WPTV reported via the detectives investigating the case that the tree that was responsible for the demise of the little girl was actually rotting inside.
It is difficult to learn or comprehend that a tree that was rotting inside could topple over in a blink and kill an innocent child. Seemingly, a better inspection of the neighborhood area susceptible to children’s play can contribute to overlooking such accidents in the future. Better still, it is wise to educate children not to play so close to trees that have the tendency to topple over. It is safer to play on flat ground with no adjoining natural structures and no adult to monitor the situation.