Woman killed as storms pass through Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) A woman has died after a tree toppled onto her house in Atlanta, pinning her inside, authorities said.

The large oak tree crashed into her home on the city's northwest side before dawn on Monday, Atlanta Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Chris Wessels said.

Crews tried to get inside the house but the structure was unstable, Wessels told WSB-TV. A short time later, they were able to determine that the woman had died, authorities said.

The woman, Patricia Pusha, was a science teacher at McNair Middle School, DeKalb County Schools said in a statement.

Pusha had taught in DeKalb County for 15 years, WXIA-TV reported.

``This is a very devastating time for our family. I would have never thought that this would happen to her,'' her niece, Tanikki Echols, told WXIA.

``We know she's in heaven. She's a praying, God-fearing woman, so we just know that she's resting with the Lord,'' Echols said.