In Canton, Tree Branches Kill 2 Only Hours Apart

CANTON, MA - Friday’s weather in Canton has been no different than most places in Eastern Massachusetts. The snow came down, the wind blew, and some trees and wires fell to the ground. Unlike other towns, however, those conditions resulted in tragedy not once, but twice for the small town outside of Boston.

In a span of about 28 hours, the town lost two residents the exact same way - a tree branch that fell to the ground, unable to support the heavy snow from the day.

While the National Weather Service does not have a snow total for Canton, neighboring Milton and Sharon received 12.5 and 11 inches Friday. Both towns received the most snow in Norfolk County and were among the highest reported totals statewide.

The snow came down quickly Friday morning, with several car crashes reported during the morning commute. By the afternoon, conditions worsened so much that police advised residents to stay inside.

“We are asking you to please stay indoors, especially children. Numerous trees and branches are coming down creating an extremely dangerous situation,” the Canton Police Department wrote on Twitter.

About 40 minutes before the message was published, a 6-year-old girl named Kaleigh Kenyon was outside her house with her brother and father playing in the snow when a 35-foot tree limb, under the weight of heavy snow, snapped, pinning the girl.

Kenyon’s brother and father attempted to free her as emergency crews arrived, with neighbors attempting to perform CPR on Kenyon. She was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton in critical condition, but would succumb to her injuries while in the hospital.

Only hours later, a 48-year-old man on Longmeadow Drive was working on his backyard hockey rink when a tree branch came down. At 11 p.m., fire crews were alerted to the incident by a neighbor while responding to an unrelated reported fire at a nearby home.

The man, identified as Tom Gunning, was transported to Boston Medical Center with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead Saturday night.

The two deaths were a part of what was an extremely difficult weekend in Canton. All Friday and Saturday, public safety workers battled falling tree branches and wires, constantly updating residents on which streets were closed.

Friday, a video of a downed wire on Route 138 near Route 93 was only one example of challenges facing police, fire, and repair crews during the storm. The next day, two large trees closed York Street and a portion of Pleasant Street was closed to the public.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created by two of Kenyon’s cousins to cover the expenses from her death. As of Saturday night, “Kaleigh Kenyon Final Expenses” has raised $21,230.

To donate to the fund, click the GoFundMe link above.

Photo Credit: WHDH, 7-News