Falling tree crushes car, closes University Avenue
By
Dana Lewin on October 25th, 2012 | Last updated: December 20, 2012 at 3:58 pm
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This Honda had been heading westbound on W. University Avenue when debris from a falling tree struck it. The tree blocked traffic in both directions and collapsed power lines. Officials said the road would be closed until the debris is removed and the power lines are fixed.
The tree that fell on W. University Avenue had short, weak roots at its base. Officials said a gust of wind could have knocked it over.
Debris from a red Mitsubishi two-door convertible that was crushed beneath the tree that fell on W. University Avenue Thursday afternoon.
Gainesville Fire Rescue workers remove debris and collapsed power lines after a tree fell on W. University Avenue near NW 27th Terrace.
Cruising along University Avenue is common for Gainesville drivers, but one woman found her mid-day drive to be anything but routine Thursday.
Dispatch at the Gainesville Police Department received a call at about 1:45 p.m. regarding a large tree that had fallen across University Avenue near NW 27th Terrace, pulling down power lines and blocking traffic on both sides of the road. A woman heading westbound in a red, two-door Mitsubishi soft-top convertible when the tree toppled over the vehicle, leaving her trapped inside.
Fire rescue workers and the police department worked with Gainesville Regional Utilities to safely extract the woman from her car. She was taken to Shands hospital with minor injuries. The tree struck another vehicle, but the driver was not injured.
Gainesville Police Department Public Information Officer Ben Tobias said a gust of wind could have caused the fall.
“The base of the tree, there’s not a lot of roots to it, and a gust of wind or something must have taken it over,” he said.
Officials said that University Avenue will be closed until the tree is removed and the power lines are fixed.
George Pappas wrote this story for online.
