Maryland tornado destroys family's van for daughter who uses wheelchair
Not even 24 hours after the storm, the damage to the van already created problems. A tornado in Gaithersburg, Maryland, caused significant damage to Edmundo Gutierrez's van, which he and his daughter, who uses a wheelchair and cannot walk, to be destroyed by a tree falling on top of his van. The van has a special seat that lifts her up and allows her to move from place to place, but the damage to the van poses a significant obstacle for her, as it leaves a shattered front windshield and major damage to her hood. Despite not being damaged, Gutierrez is working to fix the van quickly and as soon as possible, he has spoken to the insurance company about the issue. The Deer Park community was among the hardest hit by the tornado, with at least three homes sustaining major damage.
公開済み : 3週間前 沿って CHRISTIAN FLORES | WJLA, http://www.facebook.com/FOX29Buffalo の Weather
The terrifying sound of trees and debris swirling around during Wednesday's tornado in Gaithersburg turned into the buzzing of chainsaws in the Deer Park community on Thursday, as families - like Edmundo Gutierrez's - were left literally picking up the pieces in the aftermath of the storm.
Gutierrez's home was not damaged, but a tree fell on top of his van and destroyed it - leaving behind a shattered front windshield and major damage to the hood of the vehicle near the engine block.
"My son knocked the door of my office and said, 'You know what dad? There are objects flying around the house,'" Gutierrez said. "The tree was laying on my car. I check it more carefully. I saw the suspension was down because of the strength of the tree."
The damage to his van presents Gutierrez's family with a major obstacle.
His daughter uses a wheelchair and cannot walk, and the van has a specialized seat to help bring her from place to place.
"The reason we bought the van is because my daughter cannot walk. I put in this van a special chair. It's a chair that goes out and goes down. I put my daughter there, and she's lifted up and goes inside," Gutierrez said. "The chair will start coming out, and come here, so all what you do is just transfer the kid in the chair, the chair will lift her up, and put her inside the van."
Not even 24 hours after the storm, the damage to the van already created problems.
"Today, she's supposed to go to the school, and she couldn't go to the school," Gutierrez said. "My main concern is - because she has health problems - how are we going to take her out?"
Montgomery County officials have said the Deer Park community was the hardest hit by Wednesday's tornado.
At least three homes suffered major damage after the strong winds toppled trees on top of them, including one home on Dogwood Drive that collapsed with five people inside.
Officials said the five people in that Dogwood Drive home were the only people taken to the hospital, and the homeowner told 7News only one more family member was still in the hospital but is expected to be released soon.
While families in this community continue cleaning up and rebuilding, Gutierrez told 7News he is working on a quick fix to the van that is crucial for his daughter.
"We're going to try and put this one as fast as we can to the body shop," Gutierrez said. "I already talk to the insurance."
トピック: Tornadoes