A Clermont County woman was killed Friday afternoon when a tree came crashing down onto her house in Jackson Township, according to authorities. Deputies with the Clermont County Sheriff's Office found the woman, identified as Betty Christie, trapped beneath the fallen tree and pronounced her dead at the scene. The home sits along U.S. 50 near Locust Street, and the sheriff's office says the incident remains under investigation.
Officials on scene
The Clermont County Sheriff's Office reports that deputies were called to the home around 1:30 p.m. Friday. When they arrived, they discovered Christie pinned under the tree and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WKRC Local 12.
Storms and fallen-tree risks
Authorities have not yet said what caused the tree to come down, and investigators are working to determine whether weather, the tree's condition, or some other factor brought it crashing onto the house. Fallen trees have damaged homes across the Cincinnati area during powerful storms in recent years, a similar close call in Anderson Township was previously reported by WLWT.
Investigation ongoing
The sheriff's office has not released additional details about Christie or the extent of the damage to the home, and has characterized the case as an active investigation, according to WKRC Local 12. Officials say more information will be shared as it becomes available.
