Student seriously injured when tree falls on children outside primary school

PLEASANT HILL, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – A child was taken to the hospital after a tree fell and struck several students at an elementary school.

Emergency responders responded to Pleasant Hill Elementary School around 1:40 p.m. after hearing that a worn tree had fallen in a neighbor’s yard next to the playground, according to police.

Pleasant Hill police said the tree, believed to have fallen due to high winds, likely struck a student directly in the head. The child was transported to hospital with serious injuries.

According to school nursing staff, a tree branch from the fallen tree struck four other students, who suffered minor injuries.

Police Chief Tommy Wright said police have identified the owner of the property where the tree was located.

“People need to pay attention to the trees in their yards,” Wright said. “We want to make sure we use this as an opportunity to educate people about the dangers of trees.”

“The wind always blows hard at this time of year and in the spring. We have a number of incoming weather systems. “We want to make sure people know it’s time to take a look at what’s in your yard,” he said.