Storm causes one fatality, damage
Published 6:05 pm Sunday, December 29, 2024
- Matthew Ronald Teeple, 70, of Cleveland, was killed during Sunday's storms when a tree fell on his truck as he was driving on Hwy 152 in Iredell County. Alison Coffey, who sent this photo to the Post, said she didn't witness the accident but came upon it just after. Submitted photo
A severe thunderstorm that brought tornado warnings, high winds and heavy rain Sunday morning has claimed the life of a Cleveland man.
According to NC State Highway Patrol, Matthew Ronald Steeple, 70, of Cleveland, was traveling on NC Hwy 152 in Iredell County about 10:10 a.m. when his 1979 Chevrolet pickup truck was struck by a falling tree.
Troopers said the accident happened during a period of heavy rain and that weather was clearly a factor, but that neither speed or driver impairment were any part of the crash.
The highway was closed for about four hours during the investigation.
The accident was one of the worst by products of the morning’s stormy weather, which caused fire station alarms to sound and knocked down trees and power lines across Rowan County. The worst of the storm passed through Rowan County within about an hour before the sun began once again to break through.
