A section of Dorp Street in Stellenbosch was temporarily blocked off for traffic on 26 October after a tree fell over, damaging two vehicles.
This was according to Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager at Stellenbosch Municipality.
A blue hatchback parked beneath a fallen oak tree on Dorp Street sustained extensive damage, with visible destruction to the windshield and roof. The car was one of two affected by the incident on Dorp Street Stellenbosch, where emergency crews were called to clear the debris. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn
Driver inside car as tree falls
While one of the cars was parked on the side of the road and empty at the time of the incident, the driver of the second car was inside his vehicle when the tree fell, said one witness, Matthew Greer.
The tree, an oak tree near the corner of Dorp Street and Mill Street, collapsed at approximately 16:20 on the afternoon of 26 October. Emergency responders were called immediately, according to Greer.
A fallen tree temporarily disrupted Dorp Street traffic on 26 October. Two vehicles were damaged in the incident. This is according to witness Matthew Greer. Antoinette Steyn reports for SMF News.
Emergency services clear the street
The Stellenbosch Fire and Rescue team and traffic services responded soon after to handle the cleanup and ensure public safety, said Grobbelaar.
The road was cleared and opened for traffic by 19:00.
It is believed that the tree trunk was wet and rotting, according to a municipal worker who was part of the cleanup crew and who spoke to SMF News on the condition of anonymity.
“[The rot] likely made the tree heavy and unstable, which could have been the reason for the fall […] but there is not much we can do about that except chopping down the tree.”
The driver of the second car was heading west on Dorp Street, said Greer.
No one was injured, and the driver managed to exit the vehicle safely after the impact, said Grobbelaar.
Emergency responders inspected the damage on Dorp Street Stellenbosch, after a large oak tree fell recently, damaging two vehicles but causing no injuries. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn
Extensive damage to parked vehicle
A blue hatchback parked directly under the tree sustained the most damage. This is according to its owner, Henry Jaquire, who works at the restaurant where the incident took place.
“I just heard a thing crack, and when I came outside I couldn’t see my car anymore,” said Jaquire.
Jaquire’s car had extensive front-end damage, with the windshield and front part of the roof crushed by the fallen tree.
The two vehicles were eventually removed by tow trucks, said Jaquire.
No further updates have been provided on the damage assessment of the vehicles or any additional steps the municipality might take.
This is not the first time an oak tree has collapsed in Stellenbosch. Earlier this year Stellenbosch Wine Routes launched a campaign to plant 1 000 trees by the end of 2024, after extensive damage due to harsh winds in April.
Officials temporarily closed a lane in Dorp Street Stellenbosch, after an oak tree fell and damaged two cars recently. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn