Crime & Safety
Florence Claims 17th Life — This Time A 3-Month-Old
Officials say a 3-month-old baby was killed Sunday afternoon when a tree fell on a mobile home in Gaston County.
DALLAS, NC — A 3-month-old child became the 17th Florence-related death Sunday when a tree fell onto a mobile home in Gaston County. County commissioner Tracy Philbeck announced the child's death on Facebook. He said it happened in Dallas, North Carolina, about 20 miles west of Charlotte.
"Heartbreaking news here in Gaston County," Philbeck wrote. "Tragically, a 3 month old child has died as a result of injuries sustained when a tree fell on a mobile home in Dallas, NC."
The death happened around 1:30 p.m. on Moses Court, WCNC-TV reported. The baby's mother was rushed to a hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.
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Philbeck pleaded with residents to take the storm "seriously." He said trees can still fall and flooding is pervasive throughout the county because the ground is so saturated.
More than 5 inches of rain has fallen in the county since Thursday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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