Flying Pizza-Shop Roof Kills Passing Driver

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The New York Sun

CASTLEWOOD, Va. — A powerful wind gust blew off a section of a pizza shop roof, killing a passing motorist when it slammed into his car, state police said yesterday.

Michael Brandon Hess, 19, of Glade Springs was traveling on Route 58 Tuesday evening when the roof and possibly remnants of an air conditioning unit landed on his Ford Mustang, Sergeant Michael Conroy said.

Sergeant Conroy said he suspects the roof was ripped off by a microbust , caused by air descending from a thunderstorm. Scattered damage to some homes was also reported in this south-west Virginia community.

Hess was driving alone and was pronounced dead at the scene.


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