Tree toppled in storm kills woman, 78, in South Carolina

GAFFNEY, S.C — A woman sitting on the porch of her daughter’s South Carolina home was killed when a storm toppled a tree onto the house, authorities said.

Thelma Jordan Carroll, 78, was pronounced dead at the home in Gaffney Thursday afternoon, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said.

It took fire crews and a towing company more than 2 1/2 hours to remove the tree and the roof of the porch that collapsed to be able to free Carroll’s daughter, who survived, Fowler said in a statement.

The tree had rotted near its base and was toppled by strong winds, the coroner said.

There was a tornado warning for the area at the time. The National Weather Service has not determined if the tree was knocked over by a tornado or straight-line winds.

(WATCH BELOW: EF-1 tornado with 100 mph winds touched down in Meck, Cabarrus counties, Weather Service says)

EF-1 tornado with 100 mph winds touched down in Meck, Cabarrus counties, Weather Service says

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