ATHENS, Tenn. — A Texas man was killed and his wife injured early Sunday morning when a large Oak tree fell on their trailer camper at an Athens campground.
Terry Rasmus, 51, of Houston, and his wife Anita were asleep at the Interstate 75 Campground when the tree fell on their small camper about 3 a.m.
According to an Athens police report by Officer Sarah Francis, both victims were pinned by the tree, and it took Mrs. Rasmus more than an hour to free herself. Rescue units arrived at the scene shortly after 4 a.m. and the Athens Fire Department and notified Athens Public Works to bring additional chain saws and other equipment to help free Mr. Rasmus. He was transported to the Athens Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Campground manager George Herrmann said the tree was alive and even had buds on it.
“Apparently it was just an act of God,” He said. According to campground records, the couple had been at the campground since last August, but were listed with on the register as from Houston.
The camper was parked under the tree, and the two-foot trunk fell directly onto the sleeping area of the camper.
Mrs. Rasmus was injured in the incident, and according to the police report is recovering from her injuries at the Athens Regional Medical Center.
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