A woman from Bloomingdale Township died Monday afternoon after her mini van was crushed under a falling tree, according to Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.
Police report that Marilyn Remington, 69, was heading south on 38 1/2 St. north of CR 390 when a large tree snapped at the base and fell onto her vehicle.
"The tree came out of nowhere and she had no chance," said Sgt. Dan Abbott with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office who responded to the scene.
Remington was pinned inside her vehicle which continued on into a nearby ditch. Emergency crews worked to extricate her by using the "jaws of life" to cut her free from the wreck. An Air Care medical helicopter flew to the scene, but Remington died around the time the helicopter landed.
Deputies say that the initial investigation points to high winds snapping the tree off. The tree was about 3 to 4 feet in diameter and 43 feet off the roadway.
Remington was the only person in the car at the time of the accident. She lives down the road from where it happened. Loved ones placed purple flowers at the site Monday evening in her memory.
Family members say Remington was on her way to pick up her granddaughter from school just before the accident. Many of the relatives live nearby and were called to the site of the accident.
"I got the call at work and they said your mom has been in an accident," recalls Tim Remington, Marilyn's son.
After arriving at the site and seeing his mother's damaged car, he realized she was gone. The family is still in shock over the freak and tragic accident.
"Mom was always there, she always lived in Bloomingdale, she loved being with her grandchildren, she would always be there listening or give advice and support us and I'm going to miss that," said Tim Remington.
She leaves behind a husband, 3 grown children, and 9 grandchildren.
