Police identify woman killed in Adams County when tornado blew her out of a car
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Monica Zamarron was on her way home from work when she was blown out of her car and killed by one of the handful of tornadoes to strike Iowa on Tuesday.
She was working for Southwest Iowa Egg Cooperative which sells "farm fresh eggs at affordable prices" to area food service outlets, according to SWIE's website.
The business described her as a committed worker who was on her way home from a shift when tornadoes hit in southwest Iowa.
"A valued employee, Monica, was known for her attention to detail as she provided excellent care for birds," according to a Facebook post from SWIE. "She was committed to making sure all of our customers got high quality eggs. As a special friend, her love for her family was obvious for all her knew her."
Zamarron, 46, was in a vehicle near Highway 148 and Joshua Tree Avenue north of Corning when a tornado struck the area. Her body was found about 300 yards from the car around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Adams County Sheriff's Office confirmed her identity in a news release on Wednesday.
Early reporting identified Zamarron as a possible storm chaser. Her family told the Register on Saturday that information was not accurate.
The National Weather Service said Thursday afternoon that Zamarron was killed in the same tornado that struck Greenfield, killing four others there. The tornado was on the ground for about 46 minutes, traveling 44 miles across southwest Iowa. The NWS upgraded its rating to an EF4 and said further refinements to the path and intensity are possible.
Zamarron is the only known fatality from the tornado outside of Greenfield. Another 35 people were injured in Greenfield.
The car sat in the grass, caked in mud and crumpled in on itself. No more than a mass of metal to an unknowing eye, the windshield was shattered and the front end of the car was ripped off by the storm.
'Lucky again': Tornado kills one in rural southwest Iowa; neighbors describe near-misses
In the news release confirming her death, the sheriff's office thanked all of the nearby counties who responded to the incident.
SWIE said it would donate all sales and tips from Wednesday's delivery to Zamarron's family. It said Thursday that tips for the remainder of the week would be donated to the family.
Zamarron's daughter also started a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform. The page, which has been verified by GoFundMe's Trust and Safety Team, is called "Support Monica's Family in Their Time of Loss."
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Monica Zamarron killed in Adams County, Iowa after tornado struck car
