 "Photo: Meagan McCann")
A series of tornadoes ripped through north Murfreesboro Friday, April 10, causing massive damage to residential and industrial areas while injuring dozens and killing two.
One tornado tore down Medical Center Parkway before changing directions, traveling down Thompson Lane and Broad Street prior to moving through the Riverview Community and the Tomahawk Trace area, where it proceeded to devastate the Compton Road area.
"We responded at approximately 12:40 to about 59 calls," said Randy White, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services public information officer. "We transported approximately 35 patients. Out of those 35 patients [there were] 7 critical patients, and we also had 2 DOA [dead on arrival] patients."
According to White, Kory Bryant and her 9-weeks-old daughter Olivia were found dead outside of their residence, apparently attempting to get into a car. The child was found in a car seat.
"I looked out my window and saw it," Murfreesboro resident Roger Daniels said. "It was full was of wood and furniture and stuff. It was just dancing."
The twisters destroyed numerous houses and businesses as they forged a corridor through roads, neighborhoods and other properties.
Sightings of the tornadoes vary from witnesses, but police confirmed the funnels touched down in several places.
"We believe we had at least two confirmed touchdowns in the county area, possibly as many as four," said Sgt. Dan Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. "We had reported touchdowns all the way from Rockville in the southeastern part of the county out to Milton, which is in the northeast part of the county."
Goodwin also stated that at least three-dozen homes were destroyed or damaged in the county.
"My son ran in and said 'Mom, look out the window,'" said Jennifer Farley, a Mary Kay sales director who lives on Tomahawk Trace. "We got in the closet, and we could just feel the pressure in our ears and the house. We were praying the whole time."
Designscape, Stampede Dance Hall and Saloon and, Itnolap Pallet and Crating Incorporated were just some of the businesses that incurred damage from Friday's storms.
"I left here about 15 minutes before it hit," said Diane Delk, owner of Designscape. "I'm numb right now. We're just waiting for the insurance company to get here and see what happens next."
Traffic came to a standstill as droves of people filled the roads trying to get to various parts of town in the aftermath.
"I watched as one guy stopped in the middle of the road and tried to turn around," said Ronald Wilkinson of Rich Products Corporation. "Sightseeing freaks are coming out here all day, and police and firemen can't get around them."
Police and EMS response time was delayed due to the voluminous amount of traffic on roads surrounding the affected areas.
"What we don't need out in the county or in the city is people sightseeing, coming to see the storm damage," Goodwin said. "I urge [people] to watch it on television rather than going out there themselves because they're going to clog up the roads."
Goodwin said that police personnel would be patrolling the areas in an attempt to circumvent would-be looters.
Sam Bickford, 18, of D'Ann Drive, saved his mother's life by moving her into a closet after a tornado touched down near his house and broke his finger in the process.
"The boy's a hero," said Mike Bickford, Sam's father. "My wife was asleep, and he drug her down the hall. He felt the house move up when he tried to close the closet door."
The Bickford residence was lifted off of its foundation and moved about 20 feet from where it once stood.
Neighbors helped neighbors and church groups went around handing out water and other necessities. Anybody still in need of assistance should contact American Red Cross in Rutherford County at 893-4272.
Submit your photos from the April 10 storms and the aftermath to slsubmit@yahoo.com for possible publication.
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