Deadly Tree Fall
Tree Branch Kills Driver in Maine During Thunderstorm; Two Children Rescued
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A massive tree branch crashed through a car windshield during a thunderstorm in Corinth, Maine, killing 49-year-old Amy Tatlock and injuring two children in the vehicle WABIBangor Daily News. The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. on Route 15 (Main Street) on July 16, 2026, as wind gusts of up to 80 mph swept through Penobscot County.
Even after the fatal strike, the car kept rolling northbound. An anonymous driver saw what happened, caught up to the moving vehicle, and brought it safely to a stop — an act authorities say directly saved the children's lives NEWS CENTER Maine.
A 'Guardian Angel' Stops a Rolling Car
When the branch hit, Amy Tatlock was killed instantly. But the sedan kept moving with two passengers inside — her 14-year-old daughter in the front seat and her 4-year-old granddaughter in the back WABI. A passing driver recognized the danger, pulled over, and stopped the rolling car. That driver also helped redirect traffic away from downed power lines the falling tree had torn down.
The Tatlock family called the anonymous motorist a "guardian angel." Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton confirmed the driver's fast action saved the children's lives NEWS CENTER Maine. One child suffered minor injuries. The other was unharmed.
Tatlock Had Just Beaten Cancer Months Earlier
Amy Tatlock was a 49-year-old mother of four from Charleston, Maine. She had spent 20 years as a volunteer Girl Scout troop leader and worked as a driver for Penquis, a local anti-poverty organization Bangor Daily News. In October 2025 — just nine months before her death — she had finished cancer treatment and was declared cancer-free.
Her son Christian spoke about the cruel timing. "She battled cancer and defeated it last year in October," he told WABI. "Only something as crazy and as questionable as this could take her out. She wasn't going down without a fight." Her husband Andrew said he feels "very numb" and still expects her to walk through the door.
A 20-Minute Storm Left 60,000 Homes Without Power
The storm that killed Tatlock lasted just 20 minutes but caused widespread damage across eastern Maine. Wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph knocked out power to more than 60,000 homes and businesses NEWS CENTER Maine. More than 44,000 Central Maine Power customers lost service. Another 15,000 Versant Power customers were also affected.
Central Maine Power spokesperson Dustin Wlodkowski warned that summer storms are especially dangerous. "These storms are bringing gusty winds at a time when trees are full of leaves," he said. "This means falling trees and limbs are a concern." Fully leafed trees act like sails in high wind, putting enormous pressure on branches WABI.
Family Raises Over $16,000 as Debate Over Roadside Trees Grows
Because Tatlock was a stay-at-home mother with no life insurance, her death left her husband facing serious financial strain. Her daughter Michaela launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs. Within 48 hours, 267 donors had contributed $16,507 toward a $22,000 goal Bangor Daily News.
The tragedy is expected to reignite debate over tree clearing along Maine roads. State transportation officials have long argued for cutting trees within 100 to 150 feet of roadways to prevent fatal accidents NEWS CENTER Maine. Critics say that strips Maine of its natural character and call instead for burying power lines underground. Maine is the most heavily forested state in the US, making the tension between safety and environment an ongoing conflict.
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