Incident: Weather Related Death
Date Reported: August 27, 2011
Location: Quarter Creek Dr. Queenstown, MD. 21658
Victim:Anne Bell, White female, 85yoa, of Queenstown MD.

Narrative:   Sheriff R. Gary Hofmann reports that on August 27, 2011 Anne Bell of Queenstown, MD succumbed to injuries sustained as a result of Hurricane Irene.  Members of the Office of the Sheriff for Queen Anne’s County responded to Quarter Creek Dr. Queenstown to investigate the death of Ms. Bell.

The investigation revealed that on the night of August 27, 2011 as Hurricane Irene passed over the Delmarva Peninsula, Ms. Anne Bell and another family member were seated in the sunroom of the residence. As a result of the hurricane the residence had lost power. The victim was in the sunroom due to the fact the sunroom was connected to an auxiliary power source.  High winds and rain are suspected of forcing a mature tree to fall onto a free-standing chimney attached to the glass sunroom of the single family residence.  Ms. Bell was struck with debris from the chimney, the tree and the sunroom structure.

Members of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Department responded and transported the victim to the Queen Anne’s County Emergency Center in Grasonville, MD.  Ms. Bell suffered severe trauma to  her body and succumbed to her injuries after her arrival at the medical center.

Charles Bell, Ms. Bell’s son, was also injured from the falling debris and was subsequently treated and released by the Queen Anne’s County Emergency Center.

This is a tragic event for the community that demonstrates the danger of these significant weather events. The thoughts of the Office of the Sheriff and all Queen Anne’s County Fire and EMS personnel are with the Bell family.

Deputy:   D/Cpl.. Stephen Stouffer, #0107
Assisted By: Cpl. Sean Hampton, Sgt. Morris “Sonny” Jones, and D/Sgt. Bruce Layton
Case Number: 11-29266