A 13-year-old girl was killed after a falling tree crushed her as she lay in bed with her grandmother as storms rumbled through metro Atlanta early Saturday.
The storms began marching through the area Friday afternoon and intensified through the evening. Widespread rain fell and strong winds whipped as the system made its way across the state. By 11:30 p.m., the severe weather threat was over, but scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms continued to move through the area overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
One of those pockets of wind brought down a tree on A’erica Shukai Dixon’s home and killed her around 3 a.m., according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office and a GoFundMe campaign created by her family to help with funeral costs. Officials originally stated that A‘erica was 10 years old.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The home is on Mims Street in the Mozley Park neighborhood of southwest Atlanta.
The girl’s cousin, Tomeka Dixon, said the family called her “Tink” and described her as “a very happy child who was a cheerleader.”
“She loved dancing and making TikTok videos and playing with her toys,” Tomeka Dixon wrote on the fundraising site.
When the tree fell, A‘erica was in bed with her grandmother, who was also injured. The family described those injuries as a broken pelvis with paralysis in one leg.
At least six people lived at the home. The family said that included A‘erica’s mother and grandmother, her two sisters and one brother.
Atlanta fire officials said A‘erica’s mother was also injured and was described as stable.
Amid Friday’s storms, the roof of a Forsyth County business collapsed, injuring four employees, according to the county fire department. The incident occurred at the Chemence facility located at 200 Technology Drive.
Credit: Forsyth County Fire Department
Credit: Forsyth County Fire Department
“The structure sustained substantial damage and flooding. There was no release of any hazardous materials. The situation has been stabilized and there are no additional hazards,” the fire department said.
The company manufactures medical adhesives, according to its website.
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