Tornado confirmed in Columbus storm that killed father and son
The storm that came through the Muscogee County area Sunday included a tornado, officials have concluded.
Columbus Consolidated Government director of homeland security and emergency management Chance Corbett told the Ledger-Enquirer he toured the damage caused by the storm with National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist David Nadler.
Corbett said Nadler determined the storm produced an EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds and was on the ground for 2.6 miles.
Path of tornado in Columbus
The tornado started around Beaver Run in Midland, went across the Bull Creek Golf Course on the Psalmond Road side and then crossed Highway 27 before lifting, Corbett said.
Corbett said there was damage to trees on the east side of Highway 27. “Some twisting in the trees. So, it was pretty obvious we did have a tornado,” he said.
A father and son — 58-year-old Matthew Terrell Collins Sr. and 29-year-old Matthew Terrell Collins Jr. — died on the golf course after a tree fell and struck them, the Ledger-Enquirer reported.
Corbett said he does believe the incident was storm-related due to the high winds. However, he said the track of the tornado was “a little bit away from them.”
The tornado hit toward the edge of the golf course on Psalmond Road, Corbett said, and the victims died close to Lynch Road near the practice putting green.
“We definitely think that obviously the winds are what snapped that tree,” Corbett said.
One victim was a former Columbus police officer
Collins Jr. was a former Columbus Police Department officer from October 2017-July 2019, CPD public information officer Brittany Santiago told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Corbett said the tree was a pine that appeared to be healthy and snapped “somewhat up the tree.”
No estimate on the dollar figure for damage caused by the storm is available yet, he said.
There was not a huge amount of damage, Corbett said, but several homeowners had damage to their homes. He said most of those homes are believed to be insured.
CCG has placed a moratorium on yard waste fees in Midland from April 9 through May 31 to help that area clean up from the storm.