SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
LAFAYETTE PASTOR AND FAMILY KILLED IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT
The worst storm in Macon County history was followed just two days later on Thursday, February 7 by a six-vehicle accident on Hwy. 52-west which tragically killed Lafayette United Methodist Church Pastor Michael Welch, 52, his wife, Julie, 45, and their two young children, son Jesse, age 15 and daughter Hannah, age 12.
The Welch family was traveling toward Lafayette, after devoting time to relief work with Tuesday night's storm victims, when the family's Honda van was crushed between two tractor trailer rigs in a six-vehicle chain reaction smash up, which occurred at about 2:15 p.m.
Doug Becker, 46, and his wife. Diane Becker, 43, were seriously injured in the same accident, but were traveling separately in a Chevy pickup truck at the time of the incident. Becker and his wife were reported to be in a Trauma unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Friday, but the couple's injuries were described by a member of their church as "not life threatening."
According to a preliminary THP accident investigation report, a line of vehicles was stopped in the eastbound lane "due to heavy traffic" traveling through a tornado damage zone near Lafayette when a fully loaded Wal-Mart Semi-tractor driven by Gerald Judd, 51, Horse Cave, KY, struck the Welch's van in the rear. The Welch family vehicle then crashed into a pickup truck driven by Doug Becker, which in turn struck an empty semi-truck driven by Jerry Gilbert, 30, London, KY.
The Becker's pickup was knocked off onto the grassy shoulder on the south side of the road, with the injured couple pinned inside.
Two additional vehicles were involved in the accident but injuries were minor and the drivers and passengers and their vehicles came to a rest on the westbound side of the highway in the emergency lane off the actual roadway.
Pastor Michael Welch and his family suffered fatal injuries at the scene. The Honda van came to a rest between a jack-knifed empty semi-truck and the full Wal-Mart truck in the eastbound emergency lane. The Becker vehicle had been rammed into a Volvo semi-truck driven by Jerry Gilbert, 30, London, KY.
The road was blocked to east-west traffic for several hours. THP Capt. Vic Donoho, a veteran trooper and a native of Macon County, said it was the worst traffic accident he had seen in his 20 year career.
Former Lafayette Methodist Pastor Amanda Diamond was in Lafayette Friday, along with Methodist Church district superintendent Ron Lowery, comforting parishioners.
Julie Welch's adult son, Garrison is expected to arrive in Lafayette on Saturday, when decisions about funeral arrangements will be completed.
Rev. Amanda Diamond preceded Pastor Welch at the Lafayette Methodist Church on Bratton Avenue, and both she and Dr. Lowery are expected to preach a Memorial Service this Sunday.
Michael Welch and his family had been at the Methodist Church in Lafayette since 2004. Julie Welch led Bible study classes, and she and her husband, and two beautiful children will be mourned and missed by all who knew them.
More information will appear on Updates as they become available.
(2) RED CROSS REQUEST
The Red Cross has requested everyone in tornado path to please call SAFE and Well 1-866-Get INFO 1-866 438-4636. Registering your name and status will allow family members to know status.
All person's affected by this storm should call as many people are still unaccounted for.
You may also search the website at http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster or locate it by searching for disaster safe red cross.
(2) RED CROSS ACCEPTING MONETARY DONATIONS TORNADO VICTIMS
NASHVILLE (February 7, 2008) ®C The Nashville Area Red Cross has been working diligently around the clock to meet the emergency needs of the Tennessee tornado victims. Volunteers are leading feeding operations and currently distributing more than 3,000 meals and snacks each day to those affected by the storms, first responders, TEMA, fire and police departments and Red Cross volunteers and staff. Volunteers are also in Sumner, Trousdale and Macon counties conducting disaster assessment, assessing the damage to each home.
After disaster assessment is complete, our volunteers will be interviewing each family and providing assistance based each individual family
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