1 killed, 3 injured by fallen tree in Sikeston, Missouri
Updated: May 17, 2017 6:20 PM EST
SCOTT COUNTY, MO -
A person has died after a tree fell on them in Scott County, Missouri, on Wednesday. Three other people were injured.
The National Weather Service Paducah says a person died Wednesday afternoon in Scott County after a rotten tree fell on them. The tree was blown over by the wind and crushed the bench they were sitting.
41-year-old Richard Flye of Sikeston, Mo was an employee at the retirement center and tried to save the others sitting on the bench.
Sikeston DPS Assistant Chief Jim McMillen tells us the tree fell on an employee at the Green Meadows Retirement Center in Sikeston. The employee died.
Three people who live at the retirement center were also hurt when the tree fell. They were taken to a local hospital.
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SIKESTON, MO (KFVS) -
The name of one person killed after a tree fell at a retirement center in Sikeston, Missouri has been released.
41-year-old Richard Flye of Sikeston, Mo was an employee at the retirement center.
Flye died and three others were injured after a tree fell at the center on Wednesday, May 17.
"We hate that the families going through this but you know I would say that if I had to loose a loved one I would hope they were trying to do something really good like this," said Sikeston DPS Assistant Police Chief Jim McMillen.
According to other employees who were there, Flye was attempting to push the others out of the way.
Of the three injured, McMillen said two have been released and one is going to a trauma center for multiple fractures to her ribs.
McMillen said the facility is located on the 400 block of Kingshighway and the accident happened around 2:25 p.m.
He said a gust of wind blew over the already rotting tree sending it onto a picnic table outside where residents and employees usually sit to take breaks.
Besides Flye there were only moderate injuries complaining of back, ribs, ankle and arm pain.
The Scott County Coroner was on scene. McMillen and Sikeston DPS has contacted the family who is shocked.
"That was my cousin man, I love him to death and me and him were like this," said LaShon Harrington, Flye's cousin. "I mean he was just at my house last night."
He said they will move the victim after the coroner assesses the scene.