Nationwide — A devastating tragedy struck a southwest Atlanta neighborhood early Saturday morning when a large tree crashed via the roof of a household’s house, killing 10-year-old A’erica Shukai Dixon whereas she slept. The incident occurred round 3:30 a.m. on Mims Avenue close to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, following highly effective storms that swept via metro Atlanta and north Georgia. A’erica, affectionately generally known as “Tink,” was in mattress together with her grandmother when the tree fell, inflicting catastrophic harm.In response to 11 Alive, six folks have been inside the house when the tree collapsed, together with A’erica, her mom, grandmother, and three siblings. Each her mom and 63-year-old grandmother have been taken to the hospital with critical accidents. Members of the family say the grandmother suffered a crushed pelvis and now faces paralysis in a single leg. A’erica’s mom needed to be sedated after experiencing excessive shock.
The kid’s 14-year-old sister, Akiylah Dixon, recounted the heartbreaking second she realized she couldn’t rescue her youthful sister. “There was a gap within the ceiling. The tree was in between them, and my sister was caught contained in the mattress,” she stated tearfully. “We couldn’t get her out or nothing, and I simply noticed her not speaking.” The household has launched a GoFundMe marketing campaign to assist cowl funeral bills.
Family say that they had beforehand expressed issues in regards to the security of the tree. A big department reportedly snapped off throughout Hurricane Helene in 2023, almost hitting the household’s SUV. In response to member of the family Erica Melson, that they had notified the owner in regards to the hazard, and somebody had initially arrived to evaluate the scenario. Nevertheless, the tree was by no means eliminated. “They have been supposed to come back again and reduce the entire total tree down,” Melson stated. “Nobody ever got here again.”
Officers have since contacted the American Crimson Cross to supply assist for the displaced household, who are actually mourning the lack of a shiny and joyful youngster. A’erica was recognized for her love of dancing, cheering, enjoying with toys, and making TikTok movies. Her cousin, Tomeka Dixon, described her as a “very glad youngster” who had been grieving the lack of her father, who handed away two years in the past. “Her loss of life was sudden, and now we have now to ask for assist,” she wrote on the household’s fundraising web page.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a press release on Saturday morning, expressing condolences to A’erica’s household. The owner has but to reply to a number of inquiries in regards to the security complaints filed earlier than the incident. Because the group grieves, A’erica’s reminiscence lives on within the hearts of those that beloved her, and the household continues to hunt accountability and assist throughout this painful time.
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