ATLANTA — Part of Ponce de Leon Ave was shut down for hours after a large tree fell across the busy Atlanta road.
The tree fell earlier Wednesday morning near Springdale Road. Triple Team Traffic’s Mike Shields guided you around the backups live on Channel 2 Action News This Morning starting at 4:30 a.m.
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A rideshare driver told Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach that he got the scare of his life when the tree fell in front of him. He was able to avoid crashing right into the tree.
The branches fell perfectly around his Toyota Camry, crushing the hood and windshield. The driver walked away without a scratch.
The driver was too shaken up to speak on camera, but told Gehlbach that he knows God was watching out for him.
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A neighbor who live across Springdale Park didn’t hear the tree fall, but saw and heard the aftermath on his morning walk.
“I heard a lot of people honking the horn and just crazy, but it doesn’t surprise me because trees drop here all the time. But this one’s pretty wild,” John Ledford said.
The tree blocked traffic in both directions with cars, trucks and buses having to turn around.
“Yeah, I work over here in Ponce and I’m extremely late now. I was late already but even more now because I guess the tree fell,” Shay Shabazz said.
Around 8 a.m., crews with ATLDOT and GDOT arrived with trucks and chainsaws to start cutting the tree. Drivers are thankful that the crews made quick work to clear the road and reopen Ponce de Leon Ave. after the morning rush hour.
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