Woman dies after tree falls on car in DeKalb County

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A woman has died after a tree fell on her car Friday morning.

Authorities say 69-year-old Catherine Nero was trapped inside her Honda CRV on South Indian Creek Road and Sioux Way after a rotted pine tree landed on the roof of her car.

“My heart just hurt,” said witness Eva Hollis. “I just heard a boom and it sounded different from a tree just falling versus a tree hitting a car.”

Channel 2's Richard Elliot reports the tree crash was so violent the rear wheels on the Honda CRV popped.

“There was debris everywhere. It looked like part of the front end was over to the right. I saw the people going to assist so I didn’t go,” Hollis said.

Minutes later, DeKalb fire crews arrived and freed Nero from her car. They had to cut away the driver’s side door to get to her. She was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, but later died.

“It’s just really sad but I know that we did all we could do from the time we got here to when we got her to the hospital,” said DeKalb Fire Capt. Eric Jackson.

Nero’s family is in shock over her sudden death. They told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot that she was a remarkable woman.

Cox Media Group