5-year-old killed when tree crushes family car during storm, Georgia coroner says
A 5-year-old was crushed when a tree fell on his family’s car during severe storms that walloped Georgia and the Atlanta metro area, the Butts County Coroner’s Office confirmed.
The incident occurred Thursday, Jan. 12, as a car traveled along Haley Road in Jackson, WSB-TV and WXIA reported, citing the county medical examiner. The strong storms toppled a tree onto the vehicle, crushing the people inside.
The child died from their injuries, coroner Lacey Prue confirmed to McClatchy News. Officials haven’t released their name.
An adult who was also in the car was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to WAGA.
Additional information about the incident wasn’t immediately available.
A line of storms brought heavy rain, wind gusts and the threat of tornadoes to parts of north Georgia and metro Atlanta and left behind a path of destruction, according to photos and video shared online. Multiple counties were placed under severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings as the stormy weather rolled through.
STORM DAMAGE: Here’s a glimpse at some of the destruction we’re seeing in Butts Co, GA. Broken car windshields, uprooted trees, downed power lines and major damage to a fertilizer supplier building on Hwy 42 #gawx @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/OsZBHv1Bbr
— Brooke Zauner (@BrookeZaunerTV) January 13, 2023
More weather damage from yesterday’s tornadoes at Master Brand cabinets at I-75 and Georgia Highway 16. Most of the roof membrane was peeled away from the building and is in the loading yard adjacent to the manufacturing facility. Broken water pipes complicated matters #gawx pic.twitter.com/pT85qlNeD8
— J. Michael Brewer (@JMichaelBrewer) January 13, 2023
TORNADO DAMAGE: Hobby Lobby in Griffin. Wow. @FOX5Atlanta #gawx pic.twitter.com/3whjS65jM7
— Christine Sperow FOX 5 (@ChristineOnTV) January 12, 2023
On Jan. 13, National Weather Service officials are expected to survey the damage in Butts County and other areas where a “potentially long-track/significant tornado” may have touched down, according to WXIA.
Jackson is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
Storm watches and warnings: What the alerts mean when severe weather nears
