Woman killed by falling tree branch during softball game

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Friends and family are grieving the loss of a woman who died in what’s being called a ‘freak accident’ while at a softball field in McKeesport on Thursday.

Gendie Miller, of Ligonier, was at Renziehausen Park watching her daughter, Marlee, play softball in the Western Pennsylvania College Showcase Camp.

Gendie Miller and Family Gendie Miller and Family (WPXI/WPXI)

“It’s such a crazy, freak accident,” said Luka Bompiani, a close family friend of the Millers.

Gendie Miller and her husband, Bill, were watching their daughter, Marlee, work on different softball drills before a scrimmage game in front of college coaches. They were sitting under a tree for shade in the 90-degree heat.

“There’s no weather involved, no wind. They were just sitting under a tree watching their daughter play softball,” Bompiani said.

That’s when Bompiani said Bill Miller heard cracking sounds from the tree limbs above.

“He heard a cracking noise and the limb came down,” Bompiani said. “He said he ran and that’s when it hit Gendie.”

The limb hit Bill in the back of the legs but hit Gendie in the head. She was rushed to Forbes Hospital in an ambulance, but died on the way.

“Gendie and Bill are amazing people, and when I think of Gendie, it’s such a loving woman, caring woman, and a mother who lived for her daughter,” Bompiani said. “And she put everything she had into Marlee and everything she had into Bill, and it’s just sad. Sad how young.”

Bompiani said he became friends with the Millers about five years ago. His oldest daughter played softball on the team coached by Bill Miller. He said Marlee is like a daughter to him.

Bompiani told Channel 11’s Andrew Havranek he spoke with Bill on the phone Friday morning.

“Marlee looked at him this morning and said, ‘hey dad. We got this. We’re gonna get through this we’ve got this together,’” Bompiani said. “When I heard that that just, that brought tears to my eyes.”

A fellow coach set up a GoFundMe to help the family after this tragic accident. Click here to donate.

In just a few hours, it raised more than $18,000.

Bompiani said the family is grateful for all of the support shown to their family so far, and he asks the community to continue to be there for them, especially as Marlee enters her junior year of high school without her mom.

“I think just rally behind them. Give them the love, give them support, reach out and be there for them,” Bompiani said. “Showing their love and sharing their grace with everyone. You never know when your time comes and this was such a freak accident that they definitely need the community support around them.

The mayor’s office released a statement saying the city’s thoughts and prayers are with the Miller family at this time.

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