SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) – Severe storms Tuesday dealt some serious injuries to a Southern Kentucky woman.

The woman was hospitalized after a large tree limb came crashing down on her camper.

Austin and Ashley Molesworth have managed Happy Camper RV Park. They rent out short and long term spaces, just minutes from Lake Cumberland.

“Nine times out of ten, once they get here they become more like family,” said Ashley Molesworth.

Molesworth says they sheltered in their home as severe storms passed through. She looked outside after the storm passed, and found large tree limbs down, including one that crashed right through a camper.

“It scares you, it really does,” said Austin Molesworth. “Especially for us, we used to live in our camper. It really kind of makes you think twice about what can happen.”

The Molesworth’s say the woman was working on her computer inside when the limb grazed her head and badly cut open her arm.

They are now rethinking how they will manage trees at the RV park, many of which tower over their guests and tenants.

“Shade versus safety, we more than likely will be taking out a majority of our trees.”

The Molesworths say they are hoping for a speedy recovery for the woman. Her family is looking at thousands of dollars in damages to the camper on top of medical bills and other expenses.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A measure passed by Kentucky lawmakers to restrict the sale of vaping products has been upheld by a judge who dismissed a lawsuit that claimed the new law was constitutionally flawed.

The action by lawmakers amounted to a “legitimate state interest” and was “well within the scope of the General Assembly’s police power over the health and safety” of Kentucky citizens, Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate said in his ruling Monday.

Under the measure, vaping products not granted authorization by the Food and Drug Administration would be kept out of Kentucky stores in what supporters have promoted as an effort to reduce youth vaping. It would have no impact on FDA-authorized products or those that come under the FDA’s safe harbor rules, supporters have said.

The measure won passage this year in the state’s Republican supermajority legislature and was signed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. The law takes effect at the start of 2025.

Opponents including vape retailers immediately filed the lawsuit challenging the legislation. During the legislative session, lawmakers opposing the measure called it an example of government overreach. Vape retailers warned the restrictions would jeopardize their businesses.

The suit claimed the measure was unconstitutionally arbitrary, an argument rejected by the judge. Wingate sided with arguments from the law’s defenders, who said the regulation of vaping products is a proper subject for legislative action since it deals with the health and safety of Kentuckians.

“The sale of nicotine and vapor products are highly regulated in every state, and the Court will not question the specific reasons for the General Assembly’s decision to regulate and limit the sale of nicotine and vapor products,” the judge said.

“The regulation of these products directly relates to the health and safety of the Commonwealth’s citizens, the power of which is vested by the Kentucky Constitution in the General Assembly,” he added.

Plaintiffs also claimed the measure violated a state constitutional provision limiting legislation to only the subject expressed in its title. They said the title dealt with nicotine-only products while the legislation contained references to products of “other substances.” In rejecting that argument, the judge said the title “more than furnishes a clue to its contents and provides a general idea of the bill’s contents.”

Republican state Rep. Rebecca Raymer has said she filed the measure in response to the state’s “vaping epidemic” and, in particular, complaints about how rampant vaping has become in schools. In a release Tuesday, Raymer said she was pleased with the ruling.

“If a product can’t get authorized or doesn’t fall under the FDA’s safe harbor rules, we don’t know if the ingredients are safe, where they’re from or what impact they will have on a user’s health,” she said.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office defended the measure. The ruling reaffirmed that the legislature is empowered to make laws protecting Kentuckians’ health, Coleman said Tuesday.

A group representing Kentucky vape retailers did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Court cases stemming from several deadly incidents in and around Central Kentucky neared their ends in July as defendants received their prison sentences.

These developments include a Lexington man sentenced for a 2022 shooting at the University of Kentucky fraternity party, as well as a man convicted of reckless homicide for a fatal shooting outside of a party.

Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.

Man charged in UK frat shooting sentenced

A Lexington man at the center of a shooting investigation on University Avenue that left 11 University of Kentucky students injured was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Jason Almanza-Arroyo, 21, was sentenced on July 26, for charges of second-degree assault, multiple counts of second-degree wanton endangerment, and first-degree wanton endangerment. He was ordered by Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell to serve nine years in prison and $4,000 in restitution.

He pleaded guilty to amended charges on June 10, according to court documents.

Almanza-Arroyo was originally charged with 10 counts of second-degree assault and other offenses after he allegedly fired a shot that injured 11 people in September 2022. He was 19 at the time of the shooting.

One person was wounded by the bullet and 10 others were hit by shrapnel and debris from the shot, according to court records.

Other charges included wanton endangerment, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, assault on a police officer and felon in possession of a handgun.

Man sentenced for after reckless homicide convicted

A Lexington man found guilty of reckless homicide for his involvement in the death of a man he admittedly shot outside a party in 2022, was sentenced to prison earlier this month.

Woody LaPierre, 31, was charged with murder in connection with the death of a 25-year-old Nigerian man, Adetokunbo “Tomi” Okunoye. LaPierre’s trial concluded in early June.

Court testimony revealed LaPierre and Okunoye were at a party together the night of the shooting, and the two men were alleged to have engaged in a verbal argument before shots rang out.

LaPierre’s testimony painted Okunoye as the main aggressor in the dispute and he tried to scare off Okunoye multiple times before firing the fatal shot from a gun he didn’t know was loaded. LaPierre said Okunoye was bigger than him and afraid he could inflict serious physical injury on him.

A jury recommended a sentence of five years for LaPierre. Fayette Circuit Judge Dianne Minnifield upheld the jury’s suggestion at a sentencing hearing on July 12.

Man pleads guilty to amended charges in 2017 homicide

A third suspect involved in a shooting that killed a Lexington man in 2018 has pleaded guilty to amended charges and is now awaiting sentencing.

Garren Anderson, 23, pleaded guilty earlier this month to complicity to manslaughter, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, and tampering with physical evidence. He faces a recommended sentence of 17 years, according to court documents.

Anderson is one of five suspects charged in connection to the death of 29-year-old Charles Shryock, who died from a gunshot wound in 2017.

Anderson originally faced 17 charges in connection to Shryock’s death, including complicity to murder, attempted murder, two counts of complicity to robbery, complicity to burglary, fleeing police, tampering with evidence, buying or possessing drug paraphernalia, giving false information, and criminal mischief.

As part of his plea deal, five of his charges were dismissed and two were amended, according to court documents. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18.

Mississippi man convicted of manslaughter sentenced for crimes

A Mississippi man convicted of second-degree manslaughter by a jury on July 11 was sentenced to 10 years on July 15.

Bobby Hubbard, 24, was originally charged with murder for allegedly killing Doricky Harris at a Coolavin Apartment on West Sixth Street in September 2022.

But a jury found Hubbard guilty of a lesser charge, manslaughter, after defense attorneys argued it was a case of self-defense.

Harris’ girlfriend, Jada Richardson, testified at trial she called Hubbard and told him Harris had assaulted her and fired shots earlier that day. Richardson allegedly asked Hubbard to come pick up her and her child and take her to her sister’s house in Georgetown, fearing for her safety.

Richardson told Hubbard to come armed, Whitney Kirk, Hubbard’s attorney, said.

When Hubbard arrived he was told Harris was armed and dangerous, according to Kirk. He went to Richardson and Harris’ apartment to retrieve baby formula and a car seat while legally armed with a gun. When Hubbard entered the residence, his attorneys claimed he was attacked by Harris.