Coroner: Fort Wayne woman died from severe wind storm cut

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - An 89-year-old Fort Wayne woman died from a severe laceration she suffered from shattered glass during a wind storm, the Allen County Coroner's Office said Thursday.

Janet Howell was at her home during the storm that passed through Fort Wayne on Monday night, the office said. Emergency services transported her to a hospital and she was taken into surgery but died.

The death was ruled an accident.

Her daughter, Beth Howell, told WANE-TV an ambulance was delayed getting to the home due to storm-related damage on roads.

'œGlass was everywhere,'ť Beth Howell said. 'œI felt so helpless. I just didn't know what to do to help her.'ť

The storm produced winds as high as 98 mph (157.7 kilometers per hour).

The National Weather Service said the storm met the criteria for a derecho. Derechos are widespread, sustained, straight-line wind storms.