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Latest News

Your Health Matters

Fallen tree pins boy in Oak Cliff

01:16 AM CDT on Monday, April 14, 2008

By BOB GREENE / WFAA-TV

Video
Bob Greene reports
April 13, 2008

DALLAS - A child was rushed to the hospital Sunday after a tree fell on top of him while in playing with friends in Oak Cliff.

The 11-year-old was outside playing with three friends when they decided it was time to go inside. But before they made it to the back door, the tree fell down, pinning Devon Smith.

"We came back and Devon was on the ground and stuff was coming out of his mouth," said Keelon Simpson, Devon's best friend.

Keetra Simpson, Keelon's mom, said the sight of Devon trapped sent fear through her and her child.

"He was bleeding from the nose," she said of Devon. "He was foaming out the mouth ... I was like, God, please let this baby be okay."

Alfredo Garcia, a neighbor, quickly came to the rescue with a hydraulic jack in hand.

"I put the jack under and picked it up," he said. "Pressure came off his head. He started breathing ... [He] started screaming and stuff, so we knew he was okay."

The child was rushed to Children's Medical Center Dallas and was found to have suffered only minor injuries.

Now, Mrs. Simpson said she is looking for answers. She said the tree was in bad condition after it was hit by lightning in a previous storm. Before the accident, half the tree had already fallen and Mrs. Simpson said she asked her landlord to do something about it.

"I've been calling him and he won't answer the phone," she said.

While the boy suffered some bumps to the head and possibly a broke leg, doctors said he will be okay.

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