Tree crashes through house in Natchitoches Parish, narrowly missing baby asleep in bedroom

NATCHITOCHES PARISH, La. (KSLA) - Severe weather moved through the ArkLaTex on morning of Wednesday, March 30, causing one family in Natchitoches Parish to become trapped inside their home.

The sheriff’s office says a tree fell on a house in the 100 block of LA 485 just off South Railroad Street. The family was trapped inside the home. A representative of the sheriff’s office says no one was injured in the incident.

Katie Stewart, who lives in the home, says her family was getting ready to eat breakfast when they heard strong winds outside. Stewart says she looked up and a big tree had come through the roof and living room.

A little while later, Stewart says a bigger tree fell through the bedroom, where her great-granddaughter, Serenity, was asleep on the bed. Stewart’s granddaughter then ran to the door and tried to get into the bedroom to get the baby, but wasn’t able to. They were later able to get in through a bathroom.

“When we walked in and saw that tree on the bed, oh lord that was a bad feeling,” said Serenity’s great grandfather Sam Stewart.

Katie says they all thought the baby was dead.

“Oh my god we just bust out crying and said, ‘She dead, she dead.’”

When she was able to get into the bedroom, Katie found Serenity sitting upright on the bed in between tree branches smiling.

“It was a blessing. Nothing but the good Lord did this,” Stewart said.

Vanitria Stewart, Serenity’s mother, was on her way to the home when the accident happened.

“She [Serenity] was eating breakfast at the table and they told me [about the incident], and when I looked, I was shook. I was shaken up, I’m still shaken up,” she said.

Serenity’s family said it is God’s grace that protected her.

“Do I feel blessed? Yes, Lord! It wasn’t nothing but a blessing,” said Sam.

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