Girl dies after massive, rotting tree falls on her while fishing, Idaho officials say

A 60-foot tree fell and killed a 9-year-old girl who was fishing from a dock Wednesday, Idaho officials said.

Officials determined the tree was rotten and said at this point, there is nothing suspicious about the incident.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and Northern Lake Fire Department responded to Hayden Lake, near the English Point Trail Head, about 4:15 p.m.

“Units arrived on scene and learned a 9 year old female was fishing from a dock when a 60 foot tree fell striking the female,” Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “Medical and Law Enforcement began treating the female’s injuries and Life Flight was requested to transport the juvenile to Kootenai Health.”

The girl died from her injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

Temperatures were in the mid-80s on Wednesday afternoon, with a southwest wind at less than 10 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 3:54 PM.