Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Teen Dies From Tree Injury; Second Storm-Related Death

From Staff And Wire Reports

A Pierce County teenager critically injured during a fierce windstorm died Friday at Harborview Medical Center, officials said.

Justin Grove’s death was the second blamed on Thursday’s Western Washington storm.

Grove, 13, was hit in the head by a 15-foot section of tree that snapped and fell 70 feet in Edgewood, north of the Pierce County city of Puyallup, the Edgewood Fire Department said.

Grove was airlifted to Harborview, in Seattle, but died Friday afternoon, a nursing supervisor said. He suffered severe head injuries.

The blustery midday storm, with winds gusting to more than 80 mph, knocked out power Thursday to thousands of homes, ripped roofs off houses and brought trees crashing to the ground.

A woman was killed in Whatcom County when a tree about 16 inches in diameter and 40 feet tall fell on top of her car, said county Fire District 2 Chief Tom Fields.

The Washington State Patrol identified the woman as Cynthia A. Lasee, 43, of the Bellingham area.