Local

Man killed in storms was in same room as wife, daughter

JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — A young father died just inches from the rest of his family when a tree toppled onto his home.

Channel 2's Chris Jose went to Jackson County on Wednesday and spoke with the man’s grieving neighbors to learn more about the victim.

A tree crashed down on the roof of the home, where it still remained when Jose got there Wednesday.

High winds uprooted the tree.

A friend of the family, Keith Vickers, said seeing the damage made his heart sink.

“More than once, didn't have a good night's sleep at all. I don't think anybody in this neighborhood really did,” Vickers said.

The tree sliced through the roof and it crashed into the master bedroom.

“We got that call at about 9:30 that a tree fell across the house into the bedroom where (Jason) Combs was laying,” said Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum.

The sheriff said Combs, his wife and two kids, all hunkered down for the night in the same bedroom.

They were all asleep when the tree fell, narrowly missing Combs' wife and children.

“By the grace of God. And our hearts just go out to the family. It’s such a tragic event,” Magnum said.

“It's a little hard to understand right now. Still taking everything in and figuring everything out right now, so it's a little tough,” Vickers told Jose.

Vickers was recently at the family’s home.

“He was an everyday guy. He did everything he had to do around the house. He was actually cutting trees down, he was helping that yard out. They moved in a little over a year ago,” Vickers said. “We just pray for them, pray for the family. Pray for everybody.”

Neighbors say Combs played an important role maintaining the Cambridge Farms subdivison.