Illinois man dies when high winds topple pole onto pickup

THACKERAY, Ill. (AP) - Officials say a southern Illinois man has died when high winds blew a power transmission pole onto his pickup truck.

Hamilton County Coroner Steve Bowling says 55-year-old Tim Thomas of McLeansboro died Wednesday afternoon. The coroner tells the Evansville Courier and Press (http://bit.ly/23eXHMI) that high winds blew down as many as seven poles in the area where Thomas was driving. Bowling says one of the poles fell across the cab of Thomas' truck and killed him instantly.

Winds as high as 70 mph also blew over a semi traveling on Interstate 64 near Fairfield. The driver wasn't injured. Several poles also were reported down in Saline County.

___

Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com