Man killed during Irma in Sandy Springs identified
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - Authorities in Sandy Springs Wednesday released the name of the man killed when a tree fell on his house during Monday's storm.
Stanley Williams, 59, was inside this Hardeman Road in Sandy Springs, just north of Atlanta, when neighbors said they heard a loud snap around 3 p.m.
"I heard a loud crack, you could tell a tree was breaking. I looked out the back and I could see it had fallen on his house," Sandy Springs resident Don David recalled.
Mr. David rushed over to help his neighbor. He called 911 and could only watch as the large tree continued to fall.
"When it came down, it had fallen into the upper level and pretty much cut the top part of the house off, but it continued to fall from the weight of the tree," Mr. David said.
When an officer arrived he determined the man likely died instantly.
Neighbors said the victim is an architect in his 50s. They recalled the man as being very friendly.
"He was a very sweet man. I met him a couple of times. He would come 6 at night. If I happen to be out with the dogs I would see him drive up. He would wave, very friendly," neighbor Karen York recalled.
Trees are down and roads are closed all over Sandy Springs. The police department reports 38 streets were still off limits to drivers as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Crews continued to work around the clock to get the city back to normal. Traffic light and six utility poles are down on Riverside Drive near Beards Ferry Road. Police said it might take at least 48 hours to get that intersection going again.
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Williams is one of two people killed as a result of Irma. Nancy Eason died when a tree fell on the vehicle she was in as it sat in a Forsyth County driveway.