VIDEO: Dad's lucky escape as fallen tree and telegraph pole land on car (From Thisisdorset)
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Western Avenue closed as fallen tree and telegraph pole land on dad's car
10:09am Friday 1st February 2013 in Latest By Katie Clark
Dad's lucky escape as fallen tree and telegraph pole land on car
A FATHER and daughter had a lucky escape after a tree and telegraph pole smashed into their vehicle in Poole this morning.
Nick Holmes was driving his daughter Bethany, 15, to the bus stop in Penn Hill around 7.20am when the terrifying incident took place in Branksome Park.
The pair were just seconds out of their drive when Nick, not seeing the fallen silver birch, drove straight into its branches in Western Avenue.
Moments later a telegraph pole hit the Land Rover Defender.
Despite significant damage to the vehicle, including a smashed windscreen and damaged roof, the pair were unhurt, although both shaken.
Nick said: “I drive this route every day. There was a Winnebago parked at the side of the road in Western Avenue, I drove past it and suddenly saw there was a tree hanging off the back of the Winnebago.
“I just didn't see it until that moment. I hit the branches and told my daughter to duck as I didn't want her to get hurt. There was a telegraph pole across the roof, which we hit as well.
“The tree branches hit the car and blinded us and then there was a God almighty thump.
“As I went through the branches it must have pulled the telegraph pole, which hit the roof of the car.
“If I'd been in another vehicle I dread to think what might have happened.
“Thankfully my daughter wasn't injured but obviously very shaken up by the whole thing. She hasn't gone to school.”
BT engineers and tree specialists from Poole Borough Council were on the scene dealing with the aftermath this morning.
The road was closed to allow the 20ft tree to be removed and the cables to be made safe.
An arborologist from Poole Council said both the tree and telegraph pole were rotten.
Western Avenue is now open to traffic.
Comments(11)
ol'bag lady
says...
11:20am Fri 1 Feb 13
Arjay
says...
12:42pm Fri 1 Feb 13
ben111 wrote:Going to need the the larger size tin, I suspect.......
A bit of Tcut will sort that out
speedy231278
says...
1:24pm Fri 1 Feb 13
madras
says...
1:39pm Fri 1 Feb 13
But a small point to the echo that the fallen tree did not land on his car, only the telegraph pole - the fallen tree was already in the road (although he did drive into it)
Morrigan
says...
4:26pm Fri 1 Feb 13
The tree *did not* fall on his car - it was already fallen (onto a parked vehicle) - and he drove into the branches.
Newspapers are supposed to report events that actually happen - not embroider or over elaborate the facts for shock factor headlines - leave that to the Sun and similar tabloids *please* :o/
John T
says...
4:51pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Morrigan wrote:Perhaps the Echo were just trying to raise the roof. After all, another pole had just landed in Poole!
Why, oh why does the Echo persist in allowing inaccurate titles/reporting in this paper?
The tree *did not* fall on his car - it was already fallen (onto a parked vehicle) - and he drove into the branches.
Newspapers are supposed to report events that actually happen - not embroider or over elaborate the facts for shock factor headlines - leave that to the Sun and similar tabloids *please* :o/
portia6
says...
6:26pm Fri 1 Feb 13
apm1954
says...
6:39pm Fri 1 Feb 13
apm1954
says...
6:41pm Fri 1 Feb 13
BIGTONE
says...
8:17pm Fri 1 Feb 13
ol'bag lady wrote:the pothole syndrome....wait until damage then do something.
Poole Council said both the telegraph pole and tree were rotten. It took this incident to discover that - obviously not inspected regularly then?
ben111 says...
10:19am Fri 1 Feb 13