TIMBER!: 100-Year-Old Tree Crashes Down Onto North Bay Home

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A North Bay man and his family were lucky to escape injury when a 100-plus year old Cypress tree fell and crashed down on their Petaluma home over the weekend, totaling a vehicle and damaging part of the house.

The frightening incident occurred the morning of Saturday, Feb. 18 in the 200 block of Wilson Street while the area was in the midst of the latest in a series of huge storms that have brought heavy winds and rain to the region.

Resident Eric Mortimer said that it was his 2005 GMC Box Truck that took the brunt of the damage; the vehicle was totaled, but fortunately, the front of the house only suffered minor damage.

"My mom was sleeping about three feet from where the tree landed," Mortimer said. "The GMC saved the house and kept mom safe."

"We are very lucky that no one got hurt," he said. "It is sad to see the beautiful tree go."

Although his work truck was totaled, the house suffered only minor damage to the gutters and eavestrough.

Very close call," Mortimer said. "I hope insurance covers the damage."

Images courtesy of Eric Mortimer