SOUTHWICK, Mass. — Heavy winds in western Massachusetts are being blamed for a tree that fell on a vehicle on Friday, killing a 6-month-old baby and seriously injuring a 23-year-old woman.
In a Facebook post, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said the incident occurred at 11:57 a.m. EST in Southwick, located southwest of Springfield.
“It appears a tree came down due to heavy wind and crushed the operator’s vehicle,” Gulluni wrote.
Western Massachusetts experienced gusty winds and extreme cold on Friday, WJAR-TV reported.
The impact of the tree crushed the vehicle and killed the child, Gulluni said.
Crews were able to free the driver of the vehicle, a 23-year-old woman from Winstead, Connecticut, WFXT-TV reported. She was taken to an area hospital and was in serious condition, according to the television station.
Gulluni identified the child as the motorist’s niece.
An investigation is ongoing, police said.