Published: July 22, 2008 10:27 pm         

Downed tree leaves Clinton woman trapped in her home

CLINTON — Jonni Hayes was lying in bed when a large tree smashed through her Vermillion County home early Tuesday morning during a severe thunderstorm.

The impact caused her to hit the ceiling, and when she landed, she found herself pinned under some bedroom furniture and unable to get out. The large tree landed just a few feet away. Initially, she didn’t know where she was or what had happened.

“I was pretty scared,” she said.

Fortunately, she had just bought a new Blackberry cell phone, and the 52-year-old was able to call 911. The Blackberry had landed in a place she could reach it.

Hayes had to be extricated from her remote home just outside of Clinton. The tree was completely uprooted and demolished the home, which she rented from Lucille John.

The wait for rescue personnel seemed like an eternity, but Hayes escaped without injury — although she was in a lot of pain Tuesday afternoon. “I was in this crunched up ball” when trapped in the home, she said.

As she waited, she could hear her house “crunching further down” as the weight of the tree continued to crush it. An electrical box was sparking, she said. “I thought I was going to die,” she said.

She’s thankful to be alive, although she’s lost many of her possessions and has no insurance for them.

The tree smashing into her home did claim one victim, a kitten that Hayes had rescued during the June flood. Its death brought tears to her eyes. “One of my babies,” she said. Another cat also was injured — but her two dogs and two other cats are OK.

Many in the Wabash Valley faced property damages from the severe thunderstorms, but Hayes nearly lost her life, said Chris Strohm, Clinton’s fire chief. “She’s a very lucky woman,” he said. He estimated the tree was about six feet away from where she was trapped on the floor — crunched between her bed and what was left of a wall.

“We had to go in through a back window and move furniture out of the way,” Strohm said.

The fire department that has jurisdiction couldn’t get to the remote area because of trees blocking Indiana 163. The Clinton Fire and Police Departments as well as Vermillion County EMS responded.

“They were wonderful,” Hayes said. “It was hailing and storming, and they braved all that just for me.”

The house is totaled. Hayes had lived there two years.

Her two daughters want her to move back to Illinois, but Hayes wants to remain in Clinton and continue her job as a cook at the Crompton Hill Cafe. “I love my job. I’m not going to give up my job. I love Clinton. Ever since I’ve been here everyone has been wonderful to me,” she said.

Her daughter, Tara Terrell, came from Paris, Ill., to help her mom. She brought her boyfriend who helped cut the tree and bust windows out so family members could get in the home.

“Thank God she’s alive,” Terrell said. “When I first walked up here and saw it, I couldn’t even breathe I was crying so hard. It’s hard to pick up all the pieces. You don’t know where to start.”

The National Weather Service reported that wind gusts in Vermillion county reached as high as 85 mph.

The tree hit the home with such force, the home was split in half, Hayes said.

She spent the day salvaging what she could; she was able to save some of her furniture and all of her clothes.

“I don’t feel sorry for myself,” Hayes said. “I’m not even asking ‘Why me?’ because God must have a master plan for me — something bigger and better.”

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.