DOUGLAS, MASS. (WHDH) - Two people were injured Thursday when a tree fell on a car in Douglas, the town’s police chief said.
The incident happened on South Street around 3 p.m. Hours later, crews were still working Thursday night to restore power after the tree also took down utility wires in the area.
“It was like a big, loud boom,” said area resident Danielle Patterson.
Patterson said she ran out of her home when she heard the impact and found an injured couple walking away from the car.
“She was yelling ‘Help, help, help,” Patterson said. “She was screaming for help and said ‘I think we’re dying’ and she was really scared that the car was going to catch on fire.”
The two people were taken to the hospital — the husband with severe injuries to his head.
As they arrived at the scene, first responders were forced to work around downed power lines.
“On arrival, we had live wires,” said Douglas Acting Fire Chief John Furno. “We had residents in one of the houses, so we had to manipulate our way around.”
Resident Catherine Thomas said she was asleep when the tree came down on the opposite end of her house.
“It was terrifying,” she said.
Thomas said she was “dazed and confused.” Her TV was flashing, she said.
“And things were sparking out here,” she continued, referencing her front yard.
While crews continued to work Thursday afternoon, neighbors said the tree that fell had long been a concern.
“We knew the tree didn’t look that great and it was older. It looked like it might have had some rot to it and I think it just finally gave,” Patterson said.
Thomas said the tree “was flagged to come down” when she bought her house three years ago.
“And then they took the red flag off and they never cut it down,” she said.
While the Thomases feel fortunate to have minimal damage to their home, they said they hope the couple injured in the car recovers quickly.
“It was just scary,” said Thomas’ son, Jeremiah Thomas. “I hope they’re okay.”
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported 566 energy customers without power in Douglas as of around 9 p.m.
There was no update on the condition of the two people injured in this incident as of Thursday night.
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