BANG: An Irish Strawberry tree pins down a Toyota Starlet
A BERHAMPORE family thought the loud bang they heard last night was a wheelie bin falling over until a neighbour told them a tree had crashed on to their car.
Ruth Kiel, below, of Rintoul St went outside to find the tree that had been growing from the footpath outside her house had fallen across the roof of her Toyota Starlet.The weight of the tree caused the roof of the car to cave in, but “it popped back up when the tree was removed”, said Ruth’s partner, Gerald Morse.
A Wellington City Council team responded promptly to the family’s call last night and the workers pulled the tree off the car and chopped it up.
This morning, Ms Kiel said, the only evidence of the fallen tree was a sizeable dent in the roof of her car and a pile of firewood in the front yard.
“Ruth’s car seems to have gotten off lightly,” said neighbour Deb Potter. “The tree was as careful as it could be.”
Wellington City Council spokesman Clayton Anderson said the wind had blown the tree over and there had been several call-outs to deal with fallen branches last night.
Mr Anders
on said the trees are checked every three years and the fallen tree, an Irish Strawberry, was pruned a year ago.
“Council arborists check the trees when they carry out regular maintenance and will make decisions about replacing them.
“If residents are concerned about the safety of trees in the area, they can call the council and they will be removed if necessary.”
Meanwhile, Ruth Kiel has a small supply of firewood, more light coming in her window and she will shortly have a new tree at her gate.
Photo: RUTH KIEL