(Holton, IN) – Monday marked the 14th anniversary of the deadly tornado that struck Holton.
The EF-3 twister roared down Versailles Street at 3:58 pm on March 2, 2012, killing well-known local musician Ron Pickett, and Armando Hernandez.
A third Holton resident, Ted Tolbert, died in January 2013 from injuries suffered in the tornado.
Five others were injured.
The twister was on the ground for 8.69 miles, with a maximum width of 350 yards, and a max wind speed of 145 mph.
Retired meteorologist Mark Fenbers was on the National Weather Service team that surveyed the damage in the western Ripley County community, and says he was surprised by both the short path of the tornado and the scope of the damage.
“For example, block walls and brick walls weren’t just knocked down…they’re completely disassembled,” said Fenbers. “Every brick is disassembled from every other brick. It’s very complete destruction.”
The weather service says the storm system that day spawned 10 confirmed tornados which ultimately caused 11 deaths across the Tri-State.
