OXFORD – Thursday morning wet and heavy snow was enough to down several trees in Central Massachusetts.
The Oxford Fire Department spent much of the morning responding to calls like the one just after 8 a.m. A tree had fallen on a van traveling on Sutton Avenue and crashed through the windshield.
Bob Watson
“When we initially arrived on scene, the entire roof over the passenger and driver was crushed with a tree on top. And branches were blocking the door from gaining access to the driver,” said Lt. Nicholas Lambert of the Oxford Fire Department.
Fire brigade frees driver trapped in van
There were two people in the vehicle. One was able to get out, but the driver was trapped and required rescuers to cut branches to reach him. The driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“They were driving down Sutton Avenue and it was just the wrong place and the wrong time,” Lt. Lambert said. “Between the snow load and the recent drought, which has also weakened all the trees, are combining to cause some of them in the area to fall.”
The Oxford Fire Department also reported that a tree had fallen on a home along Federal Hill Road. No one was injured in that incident.
It took first responders about 40 minutes to reach the scene on Sutton Ave. Thursday morning. to vacate. The road is a main road to I-395 and caused traffic backups for miles.
WBZ spoke by phone with someone who knew the two men who were in the van. It is said that they are both shocked. The man in the hospital is alert and talking.
