Fallen trees, outages in metro area after storms

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News is trying to find out when electricity will be restored to several residents in a northwest Atlanta neighborhood after a large tree fell on power lines early Saturday morning.

The 30-foot white oak tree is lying on top of power lines in the 1400 block of West Wesley Drive, just west of Interstate 75.

Channel 2’s Tom Regan spoke to the owner of the property from which the tree fell. The owner said he heard a popping noise at about 5 a.m. before discovering the fallen tree, which knocked out power at several homes nearby.

Regan saw an Atlanta police officer at the scene detouring traffic to West Wesley Parkway.

Regan said the northwest Atlanta incident is just one of many reports of falling trees attributed to overnight storms. There were cases in Sandy Springs, Decatur and Buckhead.

The 600 block of Spalding Drive near Glenridge Drive in Sandy Springs was closed after a large tree fell. Just before noon, Regan saw a crew trying to haul off a giant oak tree blocking the intersection.

A homeowner said he heard the tree crashing down shortly after he woke up at about 7:30 a.m.

"Fortunately, it was raining, so people weren't walking. No one was hurt," said Constantine Kaisharis.

A tree also was down at Edgewater Drive and Mountain Creek Trail in Sandy Springs, according to dispatch reports.

A tree caused structural damage at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Clairmont Road in Decatur. In Buckhead, a tree was down at West Paces and Rembrandt Road.

A flash flood warning has since been issued for Big Creek in Forsyth County.

Authorities are trying to determine if weather was a factor in a deadly crash in southwest Atlanta. Police said a man identified as 34- year-old Gerald Askew, of Stone Mountain, died in the crash that happened on Interstate 285. The 4-car crash shut down all lanes Saturday morning between Mount Gilead and Cascade roads. The lanes reopened just before 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, meteorologist Brad Nitz predicts a gradual clearing on Saturday, with temperatures reaching 55 degrees. Although more clouds than sun are expected for the day, drier air will move in making it mostly sunny on Sunday with highs in the mid-60s.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution contributed to this report.

WSBTV