Falling Tree Kills Beaver Co. Teen On Camping Trip
SHEFFIELD (KDKA) – A Beaver County teenager was killed when a tree fell on her campsite during severe weather on Tuesday.
According to the family, the tree fell during a storm around 5:30 a.m. at the Minister Creek Campgrounds, near Sheffield, Warren County.
Alexis Turner, 15, was an Honor Roll student and would have been a junior at Beaver Falls High School this fall. Instead, her family is planning her funeral.
"I couldn't ask for a better daughter," said Michael Turner, the victim's dad.
"In a 15-year career, it's nothing that I've experienced before. We had a pretty extreme weather event," Rich Hatfield, a ranger with the Allegheny National Forest, said.
Hatfield said the storms brought lightning and high winds. The falling trees hit four kids, including Turner.
The Warren County Coroner says Turner died instantly of blunt force trauma to her head, neck and torso. One of the other campers had to be airlifted to a Cleveland Hospital.
"It's a horrible tragedy," said Hatfield, "My heart goes out to the families involved."
Because the group of 25 campers had hiked so far into the woods, it would be hours before the group could call for help.
"There was lightning and high winds," said Hatfield. "There were a lot of trees down, we believe the tree fell right there on their campsite."
Turner's family says they didn't learn of her death until more than six hours after she was killed.
"I just think it's negligent that you would take these kids out there, into nowhere-land knowing that a storm was coming," said Antoinette Wilson, Turner's aunt.
Turner was part of a group of roughly 25 kids and counselors from the Pine Valley Bible Camp.
"She was where she loved, she was doing what she loved. Just 15-years-old, it's way too soon," said Turner's brother, Mike Jr.
Going to the camp was the highlight of Turner's summer every year. This year, she was going to be a counselor.
"The two or three hours I saw her before she left on Father's Day, she was so excited to go," said Turner's dad.
"Just being there for them, giving them hope, taking them away from whatever problems they could have in their family, and teaching them about God. That's what my sister wanted to do," added Turner's brother, Branden.
Viewing for Alexis will be held Friday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Simpson Funeral Home in Monaca. Her funeral will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
