WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather and Sports |Likely tornado leaves 1 dead, causes widespread damage

ESTILL SPRINGS, Tenn. – A strong line of storms blew through south central Tennessee midday Monday causing a likely tornado, widespread reports of damage and at least one death.

The death was reported in Franklin County along UT Farm Road off Highway 41, about 80 miles southeast of Nashville.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Department identified the man as 79-year-old Melvin Hambrick.

He was found dead near his home just outside of Tullahoma and north of Estill Springs around 1:30 p.m.

Hambrick's daughter Linda and a boy at the same address were also injured.

"Linda is my niece and her father is the one that died," Carroll Smith told Nashville's News 2.  "It's hard for them.  They've just had a couple of tragedies in the family so this is bringing all that back."

He said the injured boy broke his arm but was expected to be okay.  His niece Linda was transported to a local hospital with injuries.

Also on UT Farm Road a short distance away, a woman and child were trapped in an overturned mobile home.

They suffered minor injuries but were also expected to be okay.
 
"The child actually crawled out the front side of the mobile home and the mother was pinned," Franklin County investigator George Dyer explained. "The fire department got her out of there."

In Decherd, also in Franklin County, a storm spotter reported a possible tornado touchdown near North Middle School on Decherd Boulevard.

The school's principal told Nashville's News 2 the school's students were in their "safe" positions and no one was injured.

Officials said while there was damage in the area, the school did not take a direct hit.

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In Moore County, the sheriff's office reported damage "everywhere" and said they were "trying to sort it out."

Among the areas with reports of damage included Highway 130 between Tullahoma and Winchester.

Joyce Four lives just west of the highway, on Turkey Creek Loop Road.

She told Nashville's News 2 she was inside her trailer when it was lifted up off its foundation.

"[It was] very, very scary," she said.  "You hear the train sound, like they always say, with the tornado, and I looked out the bedroom window, and all I saw was a solid sheet of rain coming at me, and then the trailer started to shake, pick up, and things started to fall off the walls, and the wall in my bedroom buckled over.  I mean I could see daylight out through it."

Several trees around her home were also snapped in half.

Four said she is thankful she walked away without even a scratch.

Northlake Elementary School was also reportedly damaged by the storm.

Extensive damage was reported at Tawwater's Mr. Used Cars on Old Tullahoma Road, not far from the school.

In Manchester, the storm caused an 80-foot silo on the John DeBerry Farm to topple over.  A tree was also uprooted and strewn in front of the farmhouse.

Red Cross volunteers have already responded to the area and were working to assess the emergency needs of the affected families Monday night.

Those who would like to offer their assistance can make a contribution to the Heart of Tennessee Chapter located 502 South Jackson Street in Tullahoma or online at MidTNRedCross.org.