Minister, Roselle Woman Dies After Tree Fell On Car In Morristown

ROSELLE, NJ — A community is mourning the loss of a Roselle woman and minister at a Newark church who died after a tree fell on her car trapping her and another person inside in Morristown during a thunderstorm.

Tanya Blaine, 57, a minister at St. James A.M.E. Church, died from her injuries at Morristown Medical Center on June 22, Morristown Police Department announced.

On June 18, Blaine was driving a 2008 Nissan Sentra with 46-year-old Nikisha Turner of Morristown in the front passenger seat on Ford Avenue near Franklin Street when a tree fell over, striking the vehicle and crushing the roof, and trapping them inside around 8 p.m., Morristown Police Lt. Stuart Greer said.

• See Related: Roselle Woman Critically Injured When Tree Falls On Car

Turner remains at Morristown Medical Center for treatment of non life-threatening injuries but no additional information is available regarding her condition.

Blaine's church will host a celebration of life for her on Saturday beginning with a viewing at 8 to 9:30 a.m. and followed by her funeral at 9:30 a.m. at St. James A.M.E. Church, 588 Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard, Newark.

The interment will be held at Graceland Memorial in Kenilworth.

(Image via Saint James AME Church: Tanya Blaine)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.