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Police: 1 person killed after tree falls on moving car in St. Mary's County

Officials in St. Mary's County are asking all residents that don't need to be out on the roadways to please stay home and off the roads.

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Department is investigating a fatal crash where a large tree fell on top of a moving car in Mechanicsville.

Police said the incident happened near Charlotte Hall Road off Route 5 in St. Mary’s County shortly after 9:30 a.m. Firefighters tell WUSA9 that a tree fell on a car, trapping a passenger inside. 

A preliminary investigation revealed that the car was traveling southbound on Three Notch Road when a large tree on the southbound side of the road fell onto the roof of the vehicle, trapping the driver.

The victim, identified as Tiaesa Sade Lake, 31 of Suitland, was pronounced dead on the scene. Alcohol, drugs, and speed do not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said 

Anyone who witnessed the collision that has not yet provided a statement is asked to contact the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Department at (301)-475-4200

RELATED: Live updates: One dead, tornado confirmed in Tropical Storm Isaias’ wake

There are numerous flooded roads across St. Mary's County as well as trees and power lines down.

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is asking all residents that don't need to be out on the roadways to please stay home and off the roads.

"Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult," St. Mary's County Sheriff's officials said. "It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is never safe to drive or walk into floodwaters." 

Tropical Storm Isaias hammered the DMV Tuesday morning, as the storm brought heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding and multiple tornado warnings throughout the morning.

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Leonardtown in St. Mary's County, Maryland, early Tuesday morning.

A professional weather spotter reported the tornado around 6:45 a.m. The tornado touched down on MD 5 next to Winter Sheet Metal south of Leonardtown.

RELATED: Watch Live: Isaias batters St. Mary's County with tornado, flooding, power outages

Photos showed fire crews on the scene where trees were damaged and knocked down by the high winds. The tornado also caused damage to a house, the National Weather Service reported.

The tornado carried winds of around 70 mph. There were no reports of injuries due to the tornado.

If you are in the path of a tornado or tornado warning, take cover immediately and get to low ground.

Several tornado watches and warnings were issued in the morning hours as Isaias moved through the DMV. Most of those warnings were as a result of radar-indicated tornadoes. 

The Leonardtown tornado is the first reported tornado in the DMV that caused damage.

Elsewhere in St. Mary's County, the storm brought an estimated nine inches of rain by 9 a.m.

That rain brought power outages as well as flooded roads.

By 10:30 a.m. an estimated 13,000 customers were without power in St. Mary's and Calvert Counties according to Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative.

RELATED: Red Weather Alert: Tropical Storm Isaías moves away from D.C.

RELATED: Power still out for 278,000 Dominion customers in NC, Virginia

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