Two-year-old killed in storms early Saturday morning

A two-year-old was killed by a possible tornado in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The tragedy occurred at a trailer park in the Red Chute area of Bossier.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a large tree fell on a sleeping family’s small trailer at Hillcrest Circle just off US Hwy. 80, resulting in the girl’s death.

Another child, a 15-month old, was trapped in the home. The Sheriff’s Office was on scene to remove the child.

“The child in the home is okay and the parents are okay, but quite distraught, obviously,” said Lt. Bill Davis, Bossier Sheriff public information officer. “Whether this was high winds or a tornado, we’re unsure of. But it appears this was a very large, tall tree that fell on that home.”

More damage was located in the Haughton area just further down US Hwy. 80. Country Place subdivision had multiple trees down and some power outages throughout the neighborhood. However, there were no reported injuries.

Also, a female resident in the Dogwood subdivision was taken to the hospital from a tree down on a home. There is no update on her condition yet.

“We get the warnings and this was just an unfortunate tragedy. We want to encourage people that if they hear the warnings and know a neighbor who needs assistance, please help your neighbor and call us so we can get out,” Davis added.

The National Weather Service issued an alert right after midnight that a storm producing rotation was moving out of Shreveport into Bossier City. A funnel cloud was reported by witnesses as it moved east into the Red Chute and Haughton area around 12:30 a.m.

There were no reported injuries in Bossier City as a result of the storm, but several power outages were reported in many portions of the city, including the Bossier City casinos and areas as far north as Airline Drive and Beene Boulevard.

The Bossier City Police Department phone lines were also knocked out.

Damage to retail buildings in the 2900 block of East Texas St. was reported, as was a tree down on a mobile home in the Santa Fe Mobile Home Park in the 4000 block of E. Texas St.

Power lines were reported down at several areas including 100 block of Robert E. Lee Place, 400 block of Hamilton Road.

Trees and power lines reported down and homes reported damaged in parts of Meadowview and Swan Lake neighborhoods.

Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is coordinating with the American Red Cross to provide shelter for displaced families. Red Cross officials will also go through effected neighborhoods today to offer additional assistance.