Latest news with #MatthewJr.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Father and police officer son killed when a tree fell on them while golfing
A father and his police officer son were killed on a Georgia golf course after a tree fell and crushed their golf cart, according to a local report. Matthew Terrell Collins Sr, 58, and Matthew Terrell Collins Jr, 29, were parked under a tree while they were golfing at Bull Creek Golf Course in Midland, Georgia, when the tree fell on them. According to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, the men sought refuge under the tree after a storm began dumping rain on the golf course. The incident happened on April 6, with the storm causing widespread damage throughout the region, according to local officials. 'This seems like a terrible accident, but we'll have the police department and the coroner do a thorough investigation. Our thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. This is a terrible storm that came through our community,' Columbus Fire-EMS Chief Sal Scarpa told WSBTV. Since April 2, at least 20 people have been killed as a result of flooding and tornadoes across the South and the Midwest. The younger Collins was reportedly a police officer in Columbus, Georgia. 'Matthew Jr. served our department with pride, and we are grateful for his service to this community. We extend our deepest condolences to the Collins family and ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,' the department said in a Facebook post. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to assist the family. 'Matthew Jr. was a loyal friend, a kindhearted soul, and someone who always showed up for the people in his life. He shared a deep bond with his father, and losing both of them so suddenly is a devastating blow to everyone who knew and loved them,' a message on the fundraiser page said. '[The men] were spending time together when the storm struck — sharing a moment between father and son that would unknowingly become their last." Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy. 'Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by the tragic deaths of two Georgians in Muscogee County today as a result of the severe weather,' he wrote. 'We ask that you join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, along with all those responding to storm damage.'
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Father and police officer son killed when a tree fell on them while golfing
A father and his police officer son were killed on a Georgia golf course after a tree fell and crushed their golf cart, according to a local report. Matthew Terrell Collins Sr, 58, and Matthew Terrell Collins Jr, 29, were parked under a tree while they were golfing at Bull Creek Golf Course in Midland, Georgia, when the tree fell on them. According to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, the men sought refuge under the tree after a storm began dumping rain on the golf course. The incident happened on April 6, with the storm causing widespread damage throughout the region, according to local officials. 'This seems like a terrible accident, but we'll have the police department and the coroner do a thorough investigation. Our thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. This is a terrible storm that came through our community,' Columbus Fire-EMS Chief Sal Scarpa told WSBTV. Since April 2, at least 20 people have been killed as a result of flooding and tornadoes across the South and the Midwest. The younger Collins was reportedly a police officer in Columbus, Georgia. 'Matthew Jr. served our department with pride, and we are grateful for his service to this community. We extend our deepest condolences to the Collins family and ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,' the department said in a Facebook post. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to assist the family. 'Matthew Jr. was a loyal friend, a kindhearted soul, and someone who always showed up for the people in his life. He shared a deep bond with his father, and losing both of them so suddenly is a devastating blow to everyone who knew and loved them,' a message on the fundraiser page said. '[The men] were spending time together when the storm struck — sharing a moment between father and son that would unknowingly become their last." Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy. 'Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by the tragic deaths of two Georgians in Muscogee County today as a result of the severe weather,' he wrote. 'We ask that you join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, along with all those responding to storm damage.'
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Father, son dead after tree hits their golf cart during storm in Georgia, coroner says
Father, son dead after tree hits their golf cart during storm in Georgia, coroner says A Georgia father and son who sought refuge under a tree during a storm Sunday evening were killed when the tree fell on their golf cart, according to officials. Matthew Terrell Collins Sr., 58, and Matthew Terrell Collins Jr., 29, were at the Bull Creek Golf Course in Columbus when they were hit and killed, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed to USA TODAY Monday morning. They were pronounced dead at 6:06 p.m. on Sunday, Bryan said. A "violent storm" passed through the area between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. or so that afternoon, Bryan said. The men were seeking refuge under the tree when it snapped and fell down on their golf cart. Bryan said his team has ruled the death accidental, due to blunt force trauma or "crushed trauma." The coroner's office investigates over 1,200 deaths a year. The ones that take place on golf courses are mostly due to lightning hitting trees, then traveling to the ground and hitting people. "It's extremely rare as far as being crushed like that," Bryan said. What was the weather like that day? According to Bryan, the golf course was open because it's normal for people to golf on Sundays. "We knew that storms were going to be coming in and it was forecast that day, but this one came out of nowhere," he told USA TODAY. "It was a little sprinkle and then within one minute it became extremely violent.' Meredith Wyatt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, said Monday morning that Sunday was "quite an active day" weather-wise. Weather officials called for severe weather such as a "strong line of thunderstorms associated with a cold front moving through" the area. "The cold front stalled, or as it was moving through, it just kind of stopped, and there wasn't really anything to progress that system completely through our area," Wyatt told USA TODAY. "Many locations in North and central Georgia experienced waves of heavy rainfall … frequent lightning, heavy downpours and things of that nature." When asked what kind of reports the weather service has received so far due to the storm, she said the team is still gathering data as of Monday morning. Father and son close with each other, loved ones say GoFundMe fundraiser organizer Dustin Longnion shared online that Matthew Jr. was close to his father. "They were spending time together when the storm struck—sharing a moment between father and son that would unknowingly become their last," Longnion wrote, adding that Matthew Jr. was "a loyal friend, a kindhearted soul, and someone who always showed up for the people in his life." "He shared a deep bond with his father, and losing both of them so suddenly is a devastating blow to everyone who knew and loved them," wrote Longnion. As of Monday afternoon, the fundraiser has garnered over $13,000 of its $20,000 goal. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered condolences to the family Sunday evening on social media. "Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by the tragic deaths of two Georgians in Muscogee County today as a result of the severe weather," he wrote on Facebook. "We ask that you join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, along with all those responding to storm damage." Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Georgia father, son dead after tree hits their golf cart during a Sunday storm: Coroner
A Georgia father and son who sought refuge under a tree during a storm Sunday evening were killed when the tree fell on their golf cart, according to officials. Matthew Terrell Collins Sr., 58, and Matthew Terrell Collins Jr., 29, were at the Bull Creek Golf Course in Columbus when they were hit and killed, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed to USA TODAY Monday morning. They were pronounced dead at 6:06 p.m. on Sunday, Bryan said. A "violent storm" passed through the area between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. or so that afternoon, Bryan said. The men were seeking refuge under the tree when it snapped and fell down on their golf cart. Bryan said his team has ruled the death accidental, due to blunt force trauma or "crushed trauma." The coroner's office investigates over 1,200 deaths a year. The ones that take place on golf courses are mostly due to lightning hitting trees, then traveling to the ground and hitting people. "It's extremely rare as far as being crushed like that," Bryan said. According to Bryan, the golf course was open because it's normal for people to golf on Sundays. "We knew that storms were going to be coming in and it was forecast that day, but this one came out of nowhere," he told USA TODAY. "It was a little sprinkle and then within one minute it became extremely violent.' Meredith Wyatt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, said Monday morning that Sunday was "quite an active day" weather-wise. Weather officials called for severe weather such as a "strong line of thunderstorms associated with a cold front moving through" the area. "The cold front stalled, or as it was moving through, it just kind of stopped, and there wasn't really anything to progress that system completely through our area," Wyatt told USA TODAY. "Many locations in North and central Georgia experienced waves of heavy rainfall … frequent lightning, heavy downpours and things of that nature." When asked what kind of reports the weather service has received so far due to the storm, she said the team is still gathering data as of Monday morning. GoFundMe fundraiser organizer Dustin Longnion shared online that Matthew Jr. was close to his father. "They were spending time together when the storm struck—sharing a moment between father and son that would unknowingly become their last," Longnion wrote, adding that Matthew Jr. was "a loyal friend, a kindhearted soul, and someone who always showed up for the people in his life." "He shared a deep bond with his father, and losing both of them so suddenly is a devastating blow to everyone who knew and loved them," wrote Longnion. As of Monday afternoon, the fundraiser has garnered over $13,000 of its $20,000 goal. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered condolences to the family Sunday evening on social media. "Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by the tragic deaths of two Georgians in Muscogee County today as a result of the severe weather," he wrote on Facebook. "We ask that you join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, along with all those responding to storm damage." Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia father, son killed when tree falls on golf cart during storm
