Authorities: Storm blamed for man's death in Texas

HOUSTON (AP) -- Authorities say a powerful storm moving across the southeast toppled a tree onto a pickup truck in the Houston area, killing the driver.

Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Gilliland says the tree fell onto the truck around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday.

He says the man, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

The tree was toppled by a storm system that was forecast to bring thunderstorms and tornadoes across the region. Meanwhile, the Midwest was bracing for heavy snow and ice.

Freezing rain already was blamed for a 21-vehicle pileup in Oklahoma.