According to CBS, A 2-year-old boy was killed and his mother critically injured when a tree fell on their home in Livonia, a suburban city near Detroit, amid severe weather that also spawned a tornado on Wednesday afternoon.
The Livonia Fire Department confirmed the child’s death, with Fire Chief Robert Jennison stating that the tree landed on a bed where the child and his mother were sleeping. The mother was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition. A 2-month-old baby was also in the home but is expected to be OK.
“I’ve been here 35 years. I’ve never seen a storm come through like this. It’s devastating, it’s horrible to see,” Livonia resident Melanie Ricketts told CBS News Detroit.
In a statement, the city of Livonia extended “its heartfelt sympathies to the family after the death of their 2-year-old son, who was killed after a tree fell on the family house when a quick-developing tornado struck several Livonia neighborhoods at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.”
The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Livonia, with wind speeds peaking at 95 mph. The tornado began around 3:30 p.m. and lasted for nine minutes, traveling 5.5 miles from east of the intersection of Schoolcraft and Eckles roads, north of Interstate 96, to southwest of Seven Mile and Middlebelt roads.
Brian Kahn, director of the city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness department, told CBS News in a statement that several homes were damaged and numerous trees uprooted by the storm. Livonia Parks and Recreation temporarily closed Rotary Park after the storm downed several trees and damaged the roof of the park’s main shelter. MSN News says
Livonia Fire and Rescue urged residents to report downed trees blocking streets and roadways via Livonia.gov/1871 or by calling the non-emergency line of the Livonia Police Department at (734) 466-2470.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter): “My team has been in touch with the Livonia mayor following today’s severe weather. It’s tragic to hear about the death of a young Michigander. For those affected by the storm, emergency response teams are on the ground and the utilities will be working to get power restored.”
The National Weather Service warned of severe thunderstorms in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and St. Clair counties through 5:15 p.m., with wind gusts up to 50 mph causing additional storm damage in other parts of the metro area. told by BBC
In Farmington Hills, police and fire crews responded to a collapsed canopy at a Citgo gas station at 10 Mile and Middlebelt roads, which fell on two vehicles and a motorcycle. Police Chief Jeff King reported a minor fire from fuel in a damaged pump. One person sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. A worker was able to cut off fuel to the other pumps, and nearby businesses remained open.
