Declan Carter Obituary, Death – A tragic accident claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, Declan Carter, during a school field trip at Howell Nature Center in southeastern Michigan. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office reported that a tree fell and struck Declan in the head on Thursday afternoon. He was airlifted to a hospital but sadly did not survive.
Declan, a student at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in Northville, was attending an overnight camping trip with his classmates at the nature center, located about 55 miles northwest of Detroit. The students were learning outdoor skills when the incident occurred.
According to Sheriff Michael Murphy, chaperones were teaching the children how to build a fire when they heard a loud cracking sound. The group tried to run for safety as a 20-foot-tall tree with a decayed trunk fell. Unfortunately, the tree struck Declan on the head, leading to fatal injuries. Sheriff Murphy expressed his disbelief, calling the incident a senseless and tragic accident.
Declan Carter was the son of Northville City Council member John Carter. Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull shared condolences on behalf of the city.
Tina Bruce, CEO of Howell Nature Center, stated that the center is working closely with authorities to understand the circumstances of the incident. She also announced the temporary closure of the nature center on Friday to allow staff to process the tragic event.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the child and their family during this difficult time,” Bruce said in a statement.