Teen killed by wind-toppled tree

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December 9, 2009

Victim was pregnant; another injured, in 'good' condition

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Wed Dec 09, 2009, 08:38 PM EST

A community is in shock after a 17-year-old pregnant teen was struck and killed by a falling tree on Wednesday afternoon.

Kaitlyn Griffin, 17, of Somerset, was pronounced dead at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Wednesday approximately half an hour after she was struck by a large tree that was snapped in half by high winds, according to information provided by the Somerset Police Department.

Griffin was around six months pregnant, and her unborn child was also pronounced dead at the hospital.

The incident occurred on Jasper Street, in the Colonial Village Apartments area, at around 1:30 p.m.

Griffin was unloading items from a car, with the help of her cousin, 15-year-old Josh Thacker, when the large tree, located in an adjoining yard, snapped in two. SPD Detective Shannon Smith said Thacker heard the tree fall and attempted to move away before he was hit.

Griffin was in the process of moving into one of the apartments in Colonial Village when the incident happened.

When emergency personnel arrived on the scene they found Griffin lying severely injured on the street underneath the tree. She was extricated from the downed tree and treated by fire and EMS workers.

Thacker’s injuries were not severe. As of late Wednesday afternoon, Thacker was still being treated in the emergency department of Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and was in good condition, according to LCRH spokesperson Susan Ramsey Wilson.

Smith said a third family member was also in the vicinity when the tree fell — specifically, standing by the driver’s side door of the car. That person escaped injury.

“It is a wonder there aren’t more victims,” Smith said.

Smith could not say who owned the car.

The tree nearly destroyed the car, and it was large enough to stretch across Jasper Street and strike another parked car. SPD officers worked to keep anxious neighbors away from the downed tree for safety reasons while Griffin and Thacker were treated.

One shocked neighbor said she didn’t realize what had happened until she heard the sirens approach the area.

Emergency personnel worked to save Griffin on the scene for approximately 20 minutes before they transported her to LCRH. The extreme weather conditions made it impossible for a helicopter crew to land near the scene.

Griffin was pronounced dead at LCRH at 2:05 p.m. by Pulaski County Coroner Richard New. New said Griffin’s unborn baby was pronounced dead at 3:05 p.m. after emergency medical pers-onnel worked “diligently” to save the unborn child, which was 26 weeks and six days along.

“They did everything they possibly could, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” New said.

New said Griffin died from severe injuries to the head area, and her unborn child later died due to complications from Griffin’s injuries.

Smith said he was told Griffin had been a student at Pulaski Central High School. The school’s students are still reeling from the death of another student, 16-year-old Bailey Haynes, who was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Sunday south of Burnside.

Emergency workers remained on the scene of the incident at Colonial Village for several hours Wednesday as they worked to move the tree and open the street back up.

Residents of the two apartment buildings nearest to the tree were evacuated while workers determined whether the second half of the tree was stable enough to not pose a threat.

“They’re making preparations to determine its stability,” Smith said. “If it’s not stable, they’ll make plans to remove it soon.”

As of late Wednesday afternoon, those apart-ments were still evacuated.

Smith said officials estimated sustained winds to be around 30 m.p.h. at the time of the incident, with gusts reaching more than 40 m.p.h.

The Somerset Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Somerset Fire Depart-ment, the Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, the Somerset-Pulaski County Rescue Squad, and the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office.

The investigation is continuing by the police department and the coroner’s office.

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