9-year-old girl killed by falling palm tree in Lake Worth Beach
A group of children was playing with an obstacle course strap attached between two palm trees Sunday evening when one of the palms fell, killing a 9-year-old girl and leaving a 9-year-old boy hospitalized, officials say.
A little after 6 p.m., Palm Beach Fire Rescue responded to a report of a cardiac arrest in the 6500 block of Marbletree Lane in Lake Worth Beach. A 911 caller said that a tree had fallen and struck the children, Fire Rescue said in an emailed statement.
Fire Rescue transported the two children as trauma alerts to Delray Beach Medical Center, and took a third person to a local emergency room.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrived at Delray Beach Medical Center, where the girl had been pronounced dead, according to spokesperson Teri Barbera.
Her parents told detectives that the girl and several friends had been playing with the obstacle course strap, attached between two large palm trees, Barbera said. One of the trees fell, striking the boy and landing on top of their daughter.
The investigation remains active, Barbera said. The boy is expected to survive.
