The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has identified the 9-year-old girl who was killed when a large pine tree fell on the roof of a car at a campground in Standish.
Hallie Oldham of Poland was sitting in the car Thursday afternoon as her family was preparing to leave Sebago Lake Family Campground during a quick and destructive summer storm.
Hallie Oldham Photo courtesy of the Oldham family
“Just prior to the Oldham family leaving, two large pine trees were uprooted by strong winds,” Capt. Donald Foss said Saturday in a written statement. “One tree struck the awning of the Oldhams’ camper and then crushed the family’s truck.”
The second tree struck the car occupied by Hallie, her younger sister and her mother, Jennifer Oldham, Foss said. Hallie’s father, Jarod Oldham, had not yet gotten into the car.
Hallie was trapped in the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said. Emergency responders, family members and campground patrons worked quickly to clear away the trees using chain saws, tractors and a hydraulic rescue tool. Hallie was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Other sites within the campground and homes in the surrounding area, particularly in the Long Beach and Wards Cove areas, also sustained heavy damage, with dozens of trees uprooted and some broken in half, police said. Some trees were 24 to 30 inches in diameter. Many boats, homes, vehicles and RV-style campers were damaged, but no other significant injuries were reported, they said.
“Given the extent of destruction surrounding the Oldham’s vehicles and their campsite, this horrific tragedy also proved to be a miracle that the rest of the family survived this incident,” Foss said. “The public safety community joins our local communities in showing support for the Oldham family in their time of tremendous grief.”
A GoFundMe account has been established to raise money to help the family cover funeral expenses and create a memorial to Hallie. The family also suggested donations to the Poland Recreation Department, which offered many sports and activities Hallie enjoyed.
Hallie was a rising fourth-grader at Poland Community School, where officials said she was a “delightful student” who was a “friend to all” and would “always be remembered for her smile and kindness to others.”
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