‘Completely devastated’: 8-year-old Idaho girl killed by falling tree on camping trip
An Idaho family is “completely devastated” after a tree fell on their tents while they were camping near Mountain Home, killing their 8-year-old daughter and family dog.
Over the weekend, Cadence Eastin was camping with her parents and seven brothers and sisters in the Boise National Forest. According to a GoFundMe page created by a relative, a pine tree fell on the tents the family was sleeping in, killing Cadence and the family’s dog “instantly.”
“Cadence was a truly special child,” wrote Aurora Pearce, the fundraiser’s organizer, on the page. “In addition to always having a cheerful, happy nature, she was known for having a perpetual and warm smile.”
The GoFundMe page said the family was at the Pine Campground, which is northeast of Mountain Home near Anderson Ranch Reservoir. Boise National Forest spokesperson Mike Williamson told the Idaho Statesman in an email that the family was at dispersed camping on National Forest land, not at the designated Pine Campground site.
Williamson said agency officials “do not know for certain why the tree fell over when it did.”
“The Boise National Forest offers our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the child,” he added.
The GoFundMe fundraiser is hoping to help the family raise $20,000 to help with the “unexpected exorbitant cost” of the funeral service along with assisting the family with its already stretched budget, according to the fundraiser’s page. The page had raised nearly $15,000 as of Wednesday morning.
This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 11:50 AM.
