Man dies in Lancaster when tree, utility pole fall on vehicle during storm, coroner says
A Lancaster man was killed Friday afternoon in Lancaster when a tree and utility pole fell on his truck during a storm that swept through the region, officials said.
Joe Dale Humphries, 57, was in a pickup truck on Small Street near Springdale Road when a tree and pole uprooted during the storm fell on the vehicle, said Lancaster County Coroner Karla Knight-Deese.
Lancaster County Emergency Management Director Darren Player said emergency crews responded to the scene outside the city of Lancaster.
The incident was reported around 4:30 p.m., according to the S.C. Highway Patrol incident website.
The highway patrol and coroner’s office are investigating.
A severe storm swept through York, Chester and Lancaster counties Friday afternoon. Power was out for more than 12,000 customers, and several incidents were reported of trees in roadways and traffic lights knocked off line, according to utility companies and law enforcement officials.
The death is at least the third weather-related death in York, Chester and Lancaster counties in 2020.
In February, highway patrol and coroner officials said a woman was killed in York County during a storm when a tree fell on her vehicle.
On May 5, a man in Chester County was killed after he was struck by lightning in a storm, coroner officials said.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Man dies in Lancaster when tree, utility pole fall on vehicle during storm, coroner says."
