12-year-old boy killed by falling tree at Howell Nature Center

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed a 12-year-old boy, now identified as Declan Carter, was killed after a tree fell on top of him at the Howell Nature Center on Thursday.

The department says deputies were dispatched to the Howell Nature Center after a tree fell on a 12-year-old boy at around 3:32 p.m.

The boy was visiting the Nature Center with a group from Our Lady of Victory Catholic Parish located in Northville, MI.

While one of the instructors was speaking to the group, a tree broke and landed on the boy.

After responders removed him from underneath the tree, he was transported via helicopter to a nearby hospital with what police say are life-threatening injuries.

Northville Mayor Brian P. Turnbull released a statement that said he knew Declan and his siblings and said he hopes the community will come together in support of the family during this hard time.

Northvillians,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this morning with sad news regarding one of our young Northvillians who had his whole life in front of him.
Tragically, on a field trip from Our Lady of Victory School yesterday to the Howell Nature Center, a tree came down on sixth grader Declan Carter, and he was airlifted to Mott’s Children Hospital at the University of Michigan. Everyone did all they could for Declan, but his energetic life was suddenly halted.
I had the pleasure of knowing Declan, having visited with him and his sister, Georgia, in front of their home many times, especially on hot summer afternoons for a lemonade. He had great potential academically, athletically (as one of the top runners in the area) and socially as a part of the fabric and DNA of Northville.
From all of us at City Hall, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, including his father John Carter (an esteemed City Council leader), Mother Liz Carter and his sisters Georgia and Ainsley.
It is up to us to keep Declan’s spirit and memory alive in our hearts and from this day forward, to always have the Carter family in our prayers. All of our Northville staff who are appointed and elected are like a family. A loss for one is felt by all, along with the rest of our close-knit community.
I have petitioned the Governor’s office to allow us to place our flag at City Hall at half-staff in memory of our beloved Northvillian Declan Carter, and I ask all in the Ville to do the same.
Northvillians, I urge you to come together in support of the Carter family, and I encourage you to hug all those close to you today … life is precious.
With a weeping and saddened heart representing all of Northville, we all feel the loss of young Northvillian Declan Carter.

Brian P. Turnbull
Mayor – Northville

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