Two Elementary Siblings Dead After Tree Falls on Golf Cart During Vacation

Two young siblings died on a camping trip Saturday after strong winds at their campground blew a tree over, falling over onto them.

The Indianapolis family was taking a weekend camping trip at the Indian Oaks Campground in rural Owen County, Indiana. The Owen County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to WTHR 13 News that they received a call around 2 p.m. Saturday, and it was confirmed after deputies arrived on the scene that a tree had fallen onto the siblings, an 8-year-old girl, a 9-year-old boy, while they were passengers in a golf cart driven by their parents. 

Strong winds that affected the area that entire day led to the dead and rotting tree falling onto the family’s golf cart. Medics pronounced both children dead at the scene following attempts at lifesaving measures. The county coroner has declined to release the identities of the siblings at this time, stating the sensitive nature of the case and the standard procedure of not releasing information about minors. Neither of the parents was injured in the incident. 

Both minors attended the Wayne Township School district on the west side of Indianapolis. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Butts released a statement Saturday on the tragic incident and offered the district’s condolences to the grieving family. 

“Why do certain things happen?” the superintendent wrote in a tweet. “A question we sometimes ask and something we often don’t understand. Today we lost two elementary students to a very senseless accident. They and their parents have been added to my prayer list.”

Indian Oaks Campground is located in the town of Quincy, approximately 44 miles southwest of Wayne Township. According to WANE news, first responders front the Owen County EMS, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Owens County Coroner’s Officer, Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department, and Owen County Rescue all assisted in the case.