Keizer Police Fault Tree in Friday Afternoon Crash

No, it isn't a belated April Fool's joke.

Photos courtesy: Jeff Kuhns / Keizer Police

(KEIZER, Ore.) - Keizer Police say two people narrowly escaped serious injury Friday afternoon, when a large tree came crashing down into the roadway, directly in front of their vehicle.

The large tree came crashing down in the 4500 block of Shoreline Drive North Friday at about 4:30 p.m.

Captain Jeff Kuhns with Keizer Police, says the vehicle was driven by 55-year old Vladimir Manuylova.

His wife, 53-year old Olga Manuylova, was the single passenger in the couple's 1991 Toyota Previa, which received substantial in the crash.

When officers arrived on the scene, Kuhns said, Mr. and Mrs. Manuylova had already exited the vehicle.

In spite of the close call and damage to their vehicle, the two were not complaining of any serious medical problems.

Timing can be everything, and it certainly was in this case. Strong wind can play havoc with large trees and few things are more unpredictable.

Kuhns said there was no way around this obstacle.

'Tree versus car' crash photos courtesy: Jeff Kuhns / Keizer Police

"The tree, a big leaf maple of approximately 50 years, had fallen across the roadway striking the Manuylova's vehicle as they were traveling southbound on Shoreline Drive."

Mr. Manuylova was driving the vehicle when this old tree ripped free from the earth.

He told officers he saw the tree falling in front of him and he barely had time to stop the vehicle, narrowly avoiding full contact with the falling tree.

Kuhns says the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the windshield and front roof.

Talk about a problem falling out of the sky... coming out of nowhere; this story should serve as a reminder to all drivers, particularly in the windy Pacific Northwest, that trees can come crashing to earth without warning.

Sometimes it seems like they have a mind of their own.

Mr. Manuylova told officers he and his wife were on their way home from work when the incident happened.

In addition to the Keizer Police Department, the Keizer Fire District and members of the Keizer Public Works Department responded to the scene.

They closed Shoreline Drive until the tree, debris and the vehicle could be cleared from the roadway, which was expected to reopen around 6:30 p.m.