Boater seeking shelter from storm on Mountain Island Lake is killed by falling tree

A boater on Mountain Island Lake near Charlotte was killed Sunday during an odd series of events that began when two people took shelter from a storm, according to Gaston County Police.

One of the two was hit by a falling tree after they made the seemingly smart decision to get off the lake to avoid winds and lightning, police said in a release.

The victim was identified as Vanessa Owens Postell, 34, of Dallas, North Carolina, officials said in an update.

It happened around 2:30 p.m. Sunday on an uninhabited island on Mountain Island Lake, which is about 12 miles northwest of Charlotte.

“Severe weather arrived suddenly in the area causing a boat to seek shelter on the island,” police said in a press release.

“As the two occupants sought shelter on the island, a large tree uprooted and landed on one of the two people resulting in a fatal injury,” the release said.

Several people were on the island at the time and some “attempted to provide lifesaving care to no avail,” police said.

“The victim died at the scene,” the release said.

This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 5:34 AM with the headline "Boater seeking shelter from storm on Mountain Island Lake is killed by falling tree."