Massive Tree Crushes Minivan in Santa Clarita During High Winds
Driver miraculously survives after eucalyptus tree falls onto vehicle along busy roadway.
A massive eucalyptus tree toppled onto a minivan Friday afternoon in Santa Clarita, California, as high winds swept through the region. The driver of the minivan miraculously survived the incident, though she sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The tree fell at approximately 12:40 p.m. on McBean Parkway, north of Magic Mountain Parkway. The female driver was traveling northbound when the large tree crashed down, authorities and witnesses reported.
Witnesses described hearing a loud crack followed by the ground rumbling as the substantial tree fell. "We heard it too, it was like a loud crack… So it falls and from 100 to 150 feet away, the concrete rumbled. We felt it," one witness told reporters. "Everybody around starts scattering and we here it and we feel it and this lady was inside with her car. Thankfully she wasn’t on the right lane because if she was on the right lane, she would’ve been toast."
The incident occurred amid forecasts of Santa Ana winds reaching speeds of up to 70 mph in the area. The fallen tree blocked all northbound lanes of McBean Parkway, prompting a response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Santa Clarita officials.
Crews were dispatched to the scene to clear the roadway, using chainsaws to break down the tree into manageable sections. The north-bound lanes of McBean Parkway were closed as a result of the incident.
