Tree falls on Maryland garage during 'very brief' storm, 19 sent to hospitals
A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect in the area at the time
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A total of 19 people were sent to area hospitals on Sunday after a large tree toppled onto a garage in Maryland where people were seeking shelter from a passing storm, according to officials.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department said the incident happened around 5:20 p.m. in Pasadena, a community about 20 miles southeast of Baltimore.
People attending a child's birthday party had sought shelter from a passing severe thunderstorm in a detached garage when the tree came crashing down.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"When the first firefighters arrived on scene, they found six people that were still entrapped in the garage. Three of them were quickly extricated," Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman Russ Davies told reporters. "The other three took a little bit more time to get them out, but everyone was removed within about 45 minutes."
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Davies said one person was critically injured and five others were in serious condition but none of their conditions was life-threatening. The rest of the 17 adults and two children in the garage had minor injuries, he added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A photo released by the fire department showed a large tree lying across what remained of the splintered garage.
A total of 19 people were sent to area hospitals on July 5, 2020, after a large tree toppled onto a detached garage in a Maryland neighborhood where people attending a child's birthday party sought shelter from a severe thunderstorm. (Anne Arundel County Fire Department)
“It was a very brief storm. It came through very quickly," Davies said.
The spokesman added the neighborhood is in a wooded area.
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A local resident, Dawn Rudloff told FOX45 she believed it was a tornado that struck her Pasadena neighborhood.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area at the time the tree toppled onto the garage.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Other trees were down in the area after the storm, along with electric lines, authorities said, causing power outages.
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As a precaution, Davies said, firefighters and others searched the shattered garage after everyone was out and determined no one else was left in the debris. None of the first responders was hurt.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.