Silas Anderson succumbed to injuries sustained in an unspecified weather-related incident on Friday, March 6
Credit: Cass County Sheriff’s Office
NEED TO KNOW
- At least eight people have died and dozens of others are injured due to devastating storms in Michigan and Oklahoma
- Silas Anderson, 12, succumbed to injuries sustained in a “weather-related incident” on Friday, March 6
- “Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing,” said Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach
A young boy has been named among at least eight people dead after devastating tornadoes ripped through the central U.S.
On Saturday, March 7, Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach announced in a news release shared on Facebook that 12-year-old Silas Anderson died due to injuries sustained in a “weather-related incident" in Michigan.
“Cass County Central Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 3:12 pm,” said Sheriff Roach in the news release. “Information received indicated that a possible tornado touched down in the 68000 block of Conrad Rd. North of US 12, Edwardsburg, Michigan, Milton Twp.”
“The caller advised that they could not find their son,” he continued. “Upon arrival of First Responders, it was determined that he had been located and his parents were providing first aid.”
Credit: Cass County Sheriff’s Office
Silas Anderson was immediately taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries soon after.
“Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing,” according to the news release. “Sheriff Roach asks that you respect the family’s privacy as they try to comprehend and deal with this tragedy.”
The sheriff's announcement came a day after he said in a news release that several injuries and one fatality had been confirmed as a result of the storm that tore through the area on Friday.
Elsewhere in Michigan, Branch County’s Sheriff Frederick Blankenship announced in a news release that emergency officials responded to “what is believed to be a tornado in the Union Lake area.”
“There have been 12 reported injuries, with three individuals transported to the hospital, and three fatalities,” he confirmed on March 6. “Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident.”
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Credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty
Since then, one of the victims has been identified as Penni Jo Guthrie, 65, who tragically died “from injuries sustained from a tornado that destroyed her home,” according to her obituary.
The storms have left behind damage ranging from structural impacts to complete building destruction. Residents told local news outlet WXYZ that the aftermath of the tornadoes made it look “like a bomb went off.”
“I seen debris flying and everything, and that's when I grabbed the two dogs and we headed for the basement, and I didn't make it to the basement,” Union City resident James Taylor told the outlet.
“I made it to the back of the house, and that's when I heard trees and all this, and you could see the tin shed, all that just blew right back," he continued. "In the backyard down here by the river, there's trees. It's a mess, man.”
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