Video shows tree smashing on car in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Surveillance video captured from a gas station in Chester County shows the moment a tree came smashing down on an SUV on Monday morning along Pennsylvania Route 52.
Officials identified the driver of the SUV as 40-year-old Christina Mattoscio, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident. Mattoscio did sustain injuries and was later taken to a nearby hospital, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
CBS News Philadelphia obtained the video from a KARCO gas station in the 1600 block of East Street Road in Kennett Square.
The footage shows a 2017 Ford Escape stopped behind another vehicle. Seconds later, a tree came crashing down on the back of the SUV on Lenape Road before East Street Road in Pennsbury Township.
"I was scared someone was hurt, and then when I saw her jump out of the car, I was relieved," said John Debow.
Debow, who was working on the air conditioning system on the gas station's roof, said it's a miracle no one was seriously hurt.
"God helped whoever was in the car escape without injury," he said.
CBS News Philadelphia went to the impound lot where the SUV now sits. The remaining wreckage of the car still had leftover tree bark from the fall on top of its now caved-in roof.
The gas station owner, who did not want to be identified, spent part of the day cleaning up debris. He said he's grateful but concerned for the driver, adding that he also worries about more trees falling along the busy stretch of Route 52.
"There are a lot of trees that can fall down at any time. ... Last month, there was one big, huge tree that fell down on the same street, just a few feet away," the owner said.
PennDOT responded to the scene and placed a damaged sign on the northbound lane shoulder following the incident, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
CBS News Philadelphia reached out to PennDOT to see if there were any planned tree maintenance projects, however, they did not have any information.
