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NEWS
Woman critically injured in weekend storm
A hanger door lies on the ground as crews plan repairs on Monday, July 21, 2008. The door was ripped off its hinges during Sunday evening's storm and injured a skydiver as it flipped over the building.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- The same storm responsible for knocking out electrical power to thousands caused a freak accident that rendered a local skydiver unconscious.
Ashley Washburn, 29, remained in critical condition Monday afternoon at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
The Huntington resident was at the Lawrence County Airpark on Sunday evening when strong winds ripped a hangar door from its hinge. The door flipped over the building and crashed into Washburn.
"There was no warning," said Larry Lemaster, owner and operator of Tri-State Skydivers. "The winds picked up, and all of a sudden, wham!"
Lemaster said his skydiver received multiple facial fractures and internal injuries.
Washburn remained unconscious Monday, according to her colleagues at the Autism Services Center in Huntington.
"Her parents are here and she has a large family of friends," said Washburn's supervisor, David Finley. "All of the parents on her caseload are hearing what happened. They are concerned and keeping her in their thoughts and prayers."
Washburn is a community programs manager at the autism center, where she has worked for about six years. A colleague convinced her to try skydiving.
"She's a great girl," said Jodi Fields, the center's director of office administration. "She's active in the community and very dedicated to her work."
No other major storm-related injuries were reported by local emergency dispatchers.
The stormed knocked out electricity to an estimated 19,000 customers in West Virginia, along with thousands more in Ohio and Kentucky.
Wayne County was among the hardest-hit areas. Nearly 7,000 were without power Sunday night. That number was down to 2,057 by Monday afternoon.
Jeri Matheney, spokeswoman for Appalachian Power, said crews hoped to have electricity restored by late Monday.
