Nationwide — A devastating tragedy struck a southwest Atlanta neighborhood early Saturday morning when an enormous tree crashed by way of 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 by way of metro Atlanta and north Georgia. A’erica, affectionately generally known as “Tink,” was in mattress along with her grandmother when the tree fell, inflicting catastrophic injury.Based on 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. Relations 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 mentioned 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.
Kinfolk say that they had beforehand expressed issues concerning the security of the tree. A big department reportedly snapped off throughout Hurricane Helene in 2023, practically hitting the household’s SUV. Based on member of the family Erica Melson, that they had notified the owner concerning the hazard, and somebody had initially arrived to evaluate the scenario. Nonetheless, the tree was by no means eliminated. “They have been supposed to return again and minimize the entire whole tree down,” Melson mentioned. “Nobody ever got here again.”
Officers have since contacted the American Purple Cross to supply assist for the displaced household, who at the moment are mourning the lack of a brilliant and joyful youngster. A’erica was identified for her love of dancing, cheering, enjoying with toys, and making TikTok movies. Her cousin, Tomeka Dixon, described her as a “very comfortable youngster” who had been grieving the lack of her father, who handed away two years in the past. “Her demise was sudden, and now we’ve got 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 answer a number of inquiries concerning 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.
