14-year-old who volunteered to plant trees dies after being struck by a falling branch
An Oregon family is mourning the loss of a 14-year-old boy who was killed after being struck by a falling tree branch.
On Nov. 6, officers responded to Thousand Acres Dog Park in Troutdale, about 16 miles from Portland, after a call about a young person hit by a fallen tree limb, according to a press release from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
"Despite lifesaving efforts, the teenager did not survive their injuries," the release said.
The sheriff's office identified the teen as Christopher Kelly. He was a freshman at Central Catholic High School and was volunteering to plant trees at the park for Friends of Trees.
"As you may have read there was a tragic accident at one of our planting events last Saturday. We are devastated and our hearts go out to the family," Friends of Trees said in a tweet.
The Oregonian reported another man was killed by a tree branch the same day after the area experienced strong thunderstorms with gusty winds over the weekend.
“He was just so sweet, just a smiling, wonderful child who believed in volunteerism," Kathleen Arthur, Kelly's aunt, told the Oregonian.
“It’s just so tragic that this happened. t’s just so unfair.”
Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.