Officials: Tree falls on home, kills 11 and 13-year-olds in western NC

BREVARD, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - Officials with Connestee Fire Rescue report responding after a tree fell through a trailer, killing two children in Transylvania County Sunday morning.

Officials said crews responded along with Transylvania County EMS to Okies Drive in Brevard at 3:38 a.m. after receiving a report of children trapped.

Officials report firefighters found a single wide trailer with a three-foot in diameter tree through its center.

An 11-year-old and a 13-year-old succumbed to their injuries, according to officials.

Heavy equipment was brought in from multiple sources to retrieve the bodies and the tree was cut, lifted and stabilized around 6:30 a.m., officials said.

Officials report five people lived in the home and the other three escaped without injuries. One firefighter also sustained a back injury but were released from a local hospital.

The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Medical Examiners Office are investigating the incident.

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