Fallen Trees Trap Woman, Split Dentist's Office In Half
CEDAR RIDGE (CBS13) -- Several large pine trees fell throughout Tuolmne County on Thursday, including one that trapped a woman inside her house and another that split a dentist's office in half.
The woman had to be rescued from her home on East Brookside Drive in the Cedar Ridge community northeast of Sonora. The tree fell on the house at about 8:45 a.m. and the woman was covered in debris. She was taken to an area hospital to be checked out but was expected to be OK.
"I woke up and heard my mom screaming," said the woman's son, whose name wasn't available. "Her legs are broken I'm guessing."
A tree fell onto the CAL FIRE station and another onto a dental office in nearby Twain Harte.
There were 20 people in the dentist's office when the tree crashed through, but no one was injured, CBS13's Ben Sosenko reports. A girl was in a dentist's chair and missed getting struck by just inches.
"Only by God's hand, it was a miracle here," Dr. Phil Grossman told CBS13. "I mean, it came down within inches of her body and her face."
A truck was leaving the dental office, at 22629 Twain Harte Drive, when a smaller tree fell and narrowly missed hitting the truck, according to eyewitness Larry Cook.
Grossman said the practice would continue out of temporary offices or use mobile vans until they can rebuild.
Powerful winds pushed several trees down in the area and ignited about a half dozen wildfires, according to Cal Fire.
"I felt like i was in a tornado in Kansas," said Twain Harte resident Jeanne Lawton Gisi, who watched as a neighbor's trees fell.
A high-wind warning is in effect for the area until 6 a.m. on Friday. Northeast winds are expected to reach 25-40 mph at elevations of 3,000 to 4,000, with gusts up to 60 mph.
It was a busy day in Tuolumne County, where sheriff's patrol vehicles were set on fire overnight.
