10-year-old girl struck, killed by falling tree branch in Federal Way



FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Officials say a 10-year-old girl was hit and killed by a falling tree branch during a powerful storm on Saturday.

South King County Fire Chief Chuck Kahler said authorities were called to the Trellis Apartments in Federal Way. Medics tried to resuscitate Samara Iereneo  but were unsuccessful.

"It doesn't even feel like she's gone," said Samara's brother Sage Iereneo. "It's like she's right here next to us telling us to hold it."

Samara's family told Q13 FOX the girl had been at the apartment for a birthday sleepover. She and her friends had been walking through a back pathway of the apartment around 12:30, when the branch fell.

"We were just looking at leaves and trying to catch the leaves," said Selina Rivero, who was playing with Samara and watched it happen.  "We didn't hear the creak or anything, so we couldn’t warn her."

Samara leaves behind her parents and five siblings, all grieving with a community still in shock.

"It was very shocking to get a phone call saying that your daughter got hurt," said Samara's mother Florence Iereneo.

Samara's family says they don't blame anyone for this incident -- acknowledging that it was a terrible accident. They describe her has a loving girl with a bright future.