Mont Belvieu woman killed while camping
Charity ‘force’ was hit by tree that fell during thunderstorm
A Mont Belvieu woman known for her charitable work helping police officers was killed and her husband injured Saturday when severe weather caused a tree to fall on the family’s tent at an East Texas campground.
The couple and their three children were staying at the Brushy Creek Campground northeast of Longview when extreme thunderstorms and high winds came through the area, the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office said in a news release.
Children in tent not hurt
The wind blew down a large tree, which struck Mary Pinney, 40, killing her. The three children in the tent were not injured, officials said.
Pinney was the volunteer chief operating officer for Project Blue, a nonprofit organization that raises money to help police officers fund treatment for illnesses and injuries sustained outside of police duty, said Kelly Bomersbach, a representative of the organization.
Bomersbach said Pinney was one of the driving forces behind the organization, which is based in Mont Belvieu about 35 miles east of Houston.
“She was definitely a force to be reckoned with,” Bomersbach said.
Pinney was the event director of Jail Break Run, a yearly halfmarathon put on by Project Blue. The announcement of Pinney’s death garnered dozens of comments on the half-marathon’s Facebook page from people who knew her or simply wanted to offer prayers.
“Mary was a daughter, a sister, a mother, and a great friend to all,” stated one post on the Jail Break Run Facebook page.
Pinney was one of two people who died in East Texas during the storm. Another person died in Longview on Sunday morning after a tree fell on his trailer house, Longview police said.
Power lines downed
The storms swept through much the easternmost part of Texas near the Louisiana border Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The sheriff ’s office said an unidentified number of others suffered minor to moderate injuries at the campground, which was full for the start of spring break.
Numerous power lines were downed in the area, and roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris. Debris cleanup and damage assessment will continue for several more days, along with removal of the numerous damaged RVs and vehicles.
Bomersbach said Pinney’s husband, whose name was not released, remained in intensive care Monday. Funeral arrangements for Pinney had not yet been determined.