North Texas county commissioner dies when tree falls on pickup truck during storm – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

A Van Zandt County commissioner was killed and his wife was injured Monday night when a tree fell on their vehicle as a tornado-warned storm moved through the area.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said 76-year-old Second District Commissioner Virgil Melton was driving near Farm-to-Market Road 279 near Edom around 8 p.m. when a tree fell on the cab of his truck.

The long-time commissioner died at the crime scene.

Melton’s wife, Janice, 73, was in the vehicle with him and was hospitalized in Tyler in critical condition. Janice Melton was reported to be in stable condition Tuesday morning, but further details about her injuries have not been confirmed.

Family members told NBC 5 that the Meltons were on their way back from their great-nephew’s softball game, which had been canceled, when their vehicle struck a tree.