Tree vs Cars in Rio Del Mar

When last night ‘s storm hit the Central Coast, it toppled a huge tree in Rio Del Mar, missing houses and power lines but striking three cars.

Dawn Contreras says she was at home when she heard a rumbling sound. At first, she thought it was an earthquake until she went outside and saw that a tree had fallen, landing on her car and two others.

Joel Fulton lives next door on Moosehead Drive. He says after watching a bough fall from the tree on Friday night, he moved his car. And then about 9pm Saturday night, he said he and his family heard a cracking sound they thought was lightning. “It was a loud pop, snap, which was obviously the base of the tree snapping.”

Fulton said neighbors worked together to make sure no one was hurt or trapped inside the cars. He says the fire department roped off the area and called public works to remove the tree.

Santa Cruz Public Works and various fire departments said they’ve been getting lots of calls all day about fallen trees, but did not yet have a tally of how many trees came down in the storm.