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Falling tree branch kills girl, 3, at South Jersey campground

The child was in a tent at the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground at Tall Pines in Salem County, police said.

The entrance to the Yogi Bear's Jellystone campground in Elmer, N.J.
The entrance to the Yogi Bear's Jellystone campground in Elmer, N.J.Read moreGoogle Street View (custom credit)

A 3-year-old Bronx girl was killed by a falling tree branch at a Salem County campground over the weekend, state police said.

The girl, Ellys Martinez, was in a tent about 2 p.m. Saturday when the branch fell at the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground at Tall Pines in Elmer, police said.

The child was taken to Inspira Medical Center Elmer, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

No other injuries were reported.

Strong storms passed through South Jersey during the day, including a tornado that flipped a car in Mount Laurel, but State Trooper Alejandro Goez said Monday that investigators had not determined a cause for what has been ruled an accidental death.

The campground did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Falling trees and branches have been blamed for a number of deaths and injuries at campgrounds in recent years, including that of a 46-year-old New Jersey man who was killed by a toppled sycamore in 2011. His death prompted New Jersey to permanently close the campground at the Bull Island State Park in the Delaware River in 2012.