Local

Rain, winds take down metro trees

ATLANTA — A massive tree fell on a house in northeast Atlanta's Virginia-Highland neighborhood, causing a lot of damage.

It happened early Tuesday as rain and strong winds took down trees across metro Atlanta. There were reports of trees on a utility line in Roswell, and on cars in DeKalb County. One fallen tree was also blamed for a deadly seven-car crash on Interstate 20.

Channel 2's Sophia Choi spoke to residents near the Virginia-Highland house on Rosewood Drive. Neighbor Aron Glinsky said he was awakened by the commotion when the tree fell.

"I was awakened at about 6:20 a.m., and I heard a two- to three-second rumble, and I knew it was either this majestic tree on our street or one of my own," he told Choi.

The house, built in 1934, was under renovation. The owner said it was going under contract for sale Tuesday at $900,000.

Now, several rooms upstairs have holes where fresh walls were just put up. Downstairs, there's less of a mess, but the tree did come through a family room.

The tree was growing on a nearby sidewalk.  The owner, who declined to speak on-camera, said he complained to the city four times, but nothing was done about it.

He is also the builder and said he thinks he can have the house fixed in four weeks, and maybe keep the sale intact.

"It looks like it's rebuildable. My amateur guess is the builder will be able to repair the house," Glinsky said.

After Tuesday's morning showers, skies are expected to clear, and highs will be in the upper 50s, according to Severe Weather Team 2. We'll have the latest forecast beginning on Channel 2 Action News at 4.