High Winds Create Havoc

XETV FOX6 San Diego – San Diego,CA,USA
In Encinitas, a one hundred foot eucalyptus tree that area residents
say stood along Highway 101 at J Street for decades, couldn’t stand
against the winds. …

It was a windy day in San Diego on Tuesday; one that brought down power lines and nearly claimed lives.

In Encinitas, a one hundred foot eucalyptus tree that area residents say stood along Highway 101 at J Street for decades, couldn’t stand against the winds. It came crashing down on two cars, one with two young women inside.

Tony Williams, a professional skateboarder visiting from Atlanta was inside nearby Univ Apparels when it happened.

“We heard crackling, like the tree was about to fall,” described Williams. “Immediately, everybody starts looking out the window, it’s like that feeling you got that something was about to happen.”

Coming toward the ground was a massive, one hundred foot tall eucalyptus tree, weighing several tons.

“I pulled into my parking spot, got out of my car,” explained 19 year old Nash Lundquist, who was arriving for work at Univ. “Immediately, I just see this tree starting to fall and I’m like, oh man!” And when it hit, Nash says, “the whole ground shook.”

The tree impacted two cars; one with two sisters who were pulling out of the Hanson Surf Shop.

“The tree just hit them. Hit them hard,” said Nash. “Branches came through the windows, broke the windshield.”

Despite the violent impact, the women, ages 19 and 23 from Pacific Palisades, escaped with barely a scratch.

“These two girls were extremely lucky,” said Captain. Peter Kek with the Encinitas Fire Department. “I mean, you can imagine how much weight must have been coming down by looking at the size of this tree.”

Both girls declined media interviews, telling caretakers at Hansens they were just too shaken by the experience.

Earlier in the day, the high winds caused a less dramatic scene in Hillcrest as a branch from a pine tree knocked down a power line, cutting electricity to thousands for about forty minutes.

Others found opportunity in the gusts. Kite-surfers in Pacific Beach rode high winds and high waves.

The National Weather Service said area winds were between 30 and 40 miles per hour.