Mother of 4 killed when tree falls on her SUV during storm
HOUSTON (Gray News) - A Houston mother of four was killed while trying to move her SUV in severe weather when a tree fell on the vehicle. Her death is one of at least seven blamed on the storm.
Police say 31-year-old Christin Martinez wanted to move her SUV during the Thursday night storm because she was afraid a tree would fall on it, KHOU reports.
“Unfortunately, when she got in the car, it [the tree] fell when she was inside,” Houston Police Lt. R. Willkens said.
Christin Martinez was pinned in the SUV, and first responders had to call heavy-duty wreckers to lift the tree and remove her body, according to KHOU.
She leaves behind her husband, Isaac Martinez, and their four sons, ages 1 to 12, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family. The Martinezes were high school sweethearts and had been together for 15 years.
“We’re all taking it pretty hard, especially her husband,” the victim’s brother, Jonathan Martinez, told KTRK. “We had a lot of plans this weekend, and it’s all gone. Their kid was about to graduate to middle school, and she can’t see that happen now.”
Family members describe Christin Martinez as a loving mother with a heart of gold and a witty sense of humor. She had a passion for helping others, according to GoFundMe.
Following the storm, half a million people are still without power in the Houston area, KTRK reports. Crews are working around the clock to get the lights back on, as temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s in the coming days.
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