Mother, infant tornado victims identified on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

Mother, infant tornado victims identified

Related Articles

Donations for Alabama tornado victims being accepted

Only a test at MTSU

MTSU tornado alerts to be more accurate

Blog: Playing through pain

NWS confirms two tornadoes

NWS issues tornado warning for northwestern RuCo

Christiana tornado confirmed by NWS

Tornado warning for RuCo, includes 'Boro

City plans Greenway restoration project

Grieving continues for this hard-hit Riverview family

View All

By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Friday, April 10, 2009 4:12 pm

Mother, infant tornado victims identified | tornado, storms

A mother and child were killed when their vehicle was struck at Sulphur Springs and Haynes Drive. TMC photo by Chad Mason

A mother and infant died on Sulphur Springs and Haynes Drive from tornadoes that whipped through Murfreesboro and Rutherford County this afternoon.

Kori Bryant, believed to be in her mid-20s and her 9-week-old daughter, Olivia died outside their home on Sulphur Springs. Her husband, John, suffered a collapsed lung.

Emergency Medical Services Supervisor Randy White said paramedics speculated Bryant was making her way to or from her car with Olivia in a baby carrier.

"Wind just blew her," White said. "Both were found under debris."

She was a part-time Murfreesboro Parks and Rec employee. She started as a cultural arts assistant in 2002. She taught art classes and helped with summer camps and theater programs. She also worked at Project Go as a program leader.

White said they transported 35 patients and seven of those were in critical condition.

American Red Cross is opening a shelter at New Vision Baptist Church, 1750 N. Thompson Lane.

Tornadoes raced through the Deerfield subdivision off Gresham Lane near Blackman, crossed Interstate 24, destroyed homes in West Park subdivision off Manson Pike and flattened homes in Regency Park.

The mother and infant were reportedly killed when the tornadic winds caught them in their vehicle right at their home.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans said he could not confirm any fatalities.

“This is still a search and rescue mission,” Evans said. “We’re still looking for debris. It’s so widespread throughout the city.”

He pleaded with people to stay at home.

“They’re clogging our streets and hampering our efforts,” Evans said.

Sheriff Truman Jones said the damage was widespread in Rutherford County.

“We do have major damage,” Jones said. “We haven’t been able to assess it all.”

Capt. Steve Spence said damage occurred on Manus Road, Patterson Road near Rockvale, Kingwood Lane and Overton Court, Vincent off Compton Road and Sanford Road.

Command posts were set up at Blackman Middle School and Walter Hill Elementary School.

The tornado destroyed the traffic light at Conference Drive at Medical Center Parkway. City crews will install a temporary light by Sunday.

Evans said he and Detective Chris Ashley were driving when the tornado picked up their vehicle and threw it about 30 feet.

“A big tree came in front of us,” Evans said. “We saw a tractor trailer toppling over. I’m not sure how we missed it.”

Emergency workers have gone house to house looking for victims, he said.

“Tomahawk Trace is gone,” Evans said.

La Vergne Police Chief Ted Boyd, who lives in the West Park subdivision, said his home sustained minor damage. Fellow Officer Konrad Kaul was not as lucky. His home was destroyed.

“It knocked me off my feet,” Boyd said. “It leveled a lot of houses.”

Several people in his neighborhood suffered injuries.

“They were hurt pretty badly,” Boyd said. “Some men had bad lacerations on their legs from flying debris. People in one house were “injured pretty badly.”

Photographer Steve Zavisa watched the funnel cloud when he ate lunch at Subway on Thompson Lane. It just missed his studio on Asbury Road.

He photographed damage to homes on Manson Pike and Gresham Park Drive across from The Avenue.

“This is a nightmare,” Zavisa said. “But Jesus, this makes me want to cry. What are these people going to do.”

When he drove by the subdivision, he saw a man lying in a field off Medical Center Parkway.

“His foot was shaking,” Zavisa recalled. “There was a blue SUV about 50 feet away. I don’t know if it threw him away.”

Several dogs roamed through the neighborhood as if searching for their home.

Keith Mack stopped by a friend’s destroyed home on Gresham Park Drive to see if he could salvage anything while they were being treated at the hospital.

He located a photograph of their daughter, Savannah, and three bears he planned to take to her and her sister at the hospital.

“I just thought it would make them feel better,” Mack said before he collapsed in tears.

Tagged under storms, tornado

Member Opinions:

By: les6216 on 4/10/09
I have heard that they need volunteers to go "house to house" to search for survivors. If this is true, please let the community know how we can help.

By: localmom on 4/10/09
Prayers going up for the Bryant family & friends -- and also to all those who have lost their homes today. Keep your head up and stay strong.

By: natashalesnefsky on 4/10/09
this is horrible,
i dont know what i would do if my mother and sister were to get killed.
expecially at 9 weeks old.
i would be terrified!

By: Dave42 on 4/10/09
I heard about this on the news this afternoon while I was out going to the drugstore. There are times that I'm glad I moved back to California, and I have to say this is one of them. I remember some of the twisters that came through while I was living in Murfreesboro. Our prayers go out to the family of the woman and child that were killed.

By: barrettbear on 4/10/09
From Thompson Lane and Memorial to Broad Street, unbelievable. This was a first experience for me and honestly hope it is the last.

By: jt2324 on 4/10/09
We were inside stones river mall when a lady came running into the mall saying "tornado on the ground NOW" and the mall had us take cover in the shelter areas. Thats when we heard it hit by the Avenue and blackman. Scary stuff.

By: sockrmom on 4/10/09
I'm in Memphis but my daughter goes to MTSU. I want to know how I can help or send money. No one at MTSU was injured, but it's too close for comfort. To the people of Murfreesboro, you're not alone - the people of the "Volunteer State" are going to help.

By: barrettbear on 4/10/09
To sockrmom, contact the American Red Cross.
This would be a good start, not to metion there will be scandals popping up soon.

By: susanm on 4/10/09
I also heard about this on the news today. I live in Nebraska and my best friend and her family live in this area. Can anyone tell me if Throne Street was affected? I have tried the police and they have not been to this street yet so they are unable to help. My prayers go out to all of those in Murfreesboro.

By: sockrmom on 4/10/09
To barrettbear, thanks, will do that. And to all the citizens of TN, please do what you can. This is who we are. And to the family of the mother and her 9 week old baby, please know that God has them in His loving arms tonight.

By: barrettbear on 4/10/09
Throne Street is in on the opposite side of Sulphur Springs Road where the damage took place. I am certain Throne was spared.

By: susanm on 4/10/09
Thank you barrett. I am currently back on the phone with the police dept, but on hold. I pray her and her family are fine! Again, thank you!

By: Duvics on 4/11/09
sockrmom-

I was in college in Memphis when Hurricane Elvis came and leveled the city.

Today I "raced" home from work and was wiggled through Tomahawk Trace and it reminded me of that storm, a devastation.

I'm from the younger generation and although I am sorry to see us suffer together, I'm glad to see us working together, helping together, and surviving together.

It's nice to see in this forum where we (myself included) mostly argue and disagree, are a city where 100,000+ people were at risk and 100,000+ are ready to help.

I just hope that we can keep the same sense of community when we are able to leave this tragedy behind us.

Prayers to all, Happy Easter.

By: barrettbear on 4/11/09
I agree with you Duvics. What happened got my attention real well. I used to work in the area that got hit.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Happy Easter to you to.

By: 2centsIn on 4/11/09
the speculation is wrong. according to the husband/ father the entire family was together in the bathroom and the baby was in the carseat for extra safety.

By: Boo on 4/11/09
Duvics- you said it all so well! My prayers and thoughts are with those who lost their homes, to all those people who suffered injury, and especially with the family of Kori and her baby.

By: barrettbear on 4/11/09
To sockrmom and susanm, just wanted to make sure your loved ones are o.k. I will keep you in my prayers.