Bertie death toll rises to twelve

Published 11:28 am Wednesday, April 20, 2011

WINDSOR – The impact on human life from Saturday’s tornado in Bertie County has regrettably climbed a bit higher.

The Bertie County Manager’s office confirmed this morning (Wednesday) that a woman has succumbed from injuries she sustained when one of the two tornados that tore through the county Saturday evening struck her residence.

Mary Williams, age 50 of Morris Ford Road, Colerain, became the 12th victim of the deadly storm. She had been in Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville since Saturday night in critical condition.

Morris Ford Road was among the hardest hit areas of Bertie County. With the passing of Williams, the death toll on that road now stands at four. Other deaths were reported on NC 42 west of Colerain (three fatalities), Harrell Road (two) and one each on Elm Grove Road, Nowell Farm Road and Glovers Cross Road.

Saturday marked the deadliest day in Bertie County from a weather-related event in recent memory. It doubles the death toll from a 1984 tornado that struck the Lewiston area of the county.