Local

Woman thanks 'guardian angel' after massive tree crashes through bedroom

By John Ahrens, wsoctv.com
By John Ahrens, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three people living in a northwest Charlotte home are grateful to be alive after a massive tree crashed through their house overnight.

[PHOTOS: Enormous tree flattens northwest Charlotte home]

The enormous tree fell at about 3:45 a.m. on the home on East Todd Lane, just off Mount Holly Road. The force of the impact flattened a portion of the house and sheared off the carport, leaving it a crumpled mess.

Three cousins who were renting the house were inside when the tree fell. They were able to escape the home by crawling out a window.

Channel 9 reporter Mark Barber spoke with the cousins, and one woman said she’s amazed she’s still alive after the tree crashed through her bedroom while she slept.

"Nightmares coming true,” is how Lapresha Clark described the moment when she woke to the tree crashing through her ceiling. “That's the only thing I can think of. I just thank God that my grandmother shielded me because it was raining in my room when I opened my eyes."

The tree, which stood behind the home, split in two when it fell, damaging not only the home but vehicles nearby.

The family told Barber they will stay with family in town but that many of their belongings were damaged by the rain.

Many of Charlotte's trees were planted around the same time, between 1895 to 1920, and they are reaching the end of their lifespan.

In the past five years, the number of falling trees has increased by 200 percent.

The city has a plan to try and replace the old trees and increase the city's canopy to 50 percent.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group

0

Most Read