Storms nail Midwest, kill 1, damage skyscraper

[June 19, 2010]  DEXTER, Mich. (AP) -- Severe thunderstorms sweeping through the Midwest have killed a motorist in Michigan, shattered windows in an iconic Chicago skyscraper and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people.

Sheriff's officials say a driver was killed near Dexter, Mich., about 40 miles west of Detroit, when winds toppled a tree onto a vehicle.

In Chicago, powerful winds and heavy rains broke windows in the 110-story Willis Tower. Witnesses say the debris looked like icicles falling from the skyscraper, formerly known as Sears Tower.

Utility officials say power is out for about 215,000 Chicago-area customers and 150,000 in Michigan.

In Indiana, winds gusts stronger than 75 mph knocked out power to about 60,000 customers. Storms left about 19,000 in the dark in Wisconsin.

[Associated Press]

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