12-year-old dies after being hit by falling tree at Howell Nature Center

HOWELL, Mich. (FOX 2) - Update (9:30 p.m.): A 12-year-old boy has died after being hit by a falling tree while on a school trip on Thursday.

The victim was part of a group of students from Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in Northville that were planning to do a sleepover at the Howell Nature Center.

Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy said the boy was struck on the head by either part of the tree or the whole tree; exact details were still unclear as of 6 p.m. According to the sheriff's office, the boy died at about 9 p.m. 

The boy was airlifted to the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment.

The students were gathered with chaperons, trying to make a fire, when they heard crackling and saw the tree or tree part falling down, according to Murphy. Everyone except the boy was able to get out of the way.

When FOX 2 arrived at the scene, parents were coming to pick up their children early.

Sources say there was no work being done on the tree and there were no high winds that caused the incident.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.