Three other people escaped unharmed after the tree crashed through a bedroom during powerful storms in southern Indiana.
GENEVA TOWNSHIP, Ind. — A 4-year-old boy was killed after strong winds toppled a tree onto his family’s home in southern Indiana, trapping him inside a back bedroom as severe storms swept across the state.
The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 11 to the home in Geneva Township, a heavily wooded area of Jennings County. Deputies found the child trapped where the tree had crashed through the bedroom. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other people who were inside the house escaped without injury, authorities said.
Officials did not publicly release the boy’s name, citing respect for his family. Jennings County Chief Deputy Cody Low said the death came as strong winds moved through the area. Authorities linked the fallen tree to the severe weather that struck the county that afternoon.
“There’s nothing we can say that is going to make it any better,” Low said in an interview reported by ABC News. He said the community would support the child’s family as residents and emergency crews dealt with the aftermath of the storms.
First responders were also sent to another home about two miles away after a tree fell onto that residence, according to Low. No injuries were reported there. The two incidents were among widespread reports of fallen trees, damaged property and power outages as powerful storms moved across Indiana and other parts of the Midwest.
The child’s death became part of a growing toll from several days of severe weather and flooding across Indiana. By Aug. 16, state officials said at least seven people had died since the storms began Aug. 11. The victims died in separate incidents involving flooding, storm damage and other weather-related hazards across the state.
The storms brought destructive winds and torrential rain to large sections of Indiana. Floodwaters damaged roads and bridges, forced evacuations and prompted numerous rescues. The White River reached record levels in some communities, while hundreds of homes were evacuated in areas affected by rising water.
The severe weather was part of a broader system that struck the Midwest. At one point, storms moving through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky left nearly 1 million utility customers without power. Tornadoes were also confirmed in parts of the region, while damaging winds brought down trees and power lines across multiple states.
Indiana officials continued recovery and damage-assessment efforts in the days after the boy’s death. Federal disaster assistance was approved as state and local agencies responded to flooding and widespread storm damage. The boy remained the youngest publicly confirmed victim of the deadly weather in Indiana.
Author note: Last updated August 19, 2026.