BUS DRIVER SERIOUSLY INJURED AS STORMS HIT GODALMING

By PatHill | Tuesday, January 03, 2012, 17:01

A bus driver was seriously injured after a tree fell on his vehicle near Godalming this morning as winds up to 50 mph battered the area.

Resciue teams work to remove the tree that trapped the hbus driver at Witley near Godalming
The fallen tree trapped the driver in the bus at Witley and damaged a nearby building
High winds toppled trees around the Godalming area

The driver was freed after a large tree trapped him in his vehicle on the Petworth Road in Witley earlier this at about 8.25 am.

The incident happened when a large oak tree, measuring 6ft across, fell on the single decker Stagecoach bus near the White Hart pub and the junction with Church Lane.

The driver who was freed by fire crews, suffering serious injuries and was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting.

The tree also damaged a nearby building. The road was closed in both directions throughout the day while emergency services dealt with the incident. Two passengers on board the bus at the time of the incident were unharmed, according to operator Stagecoach.

Elsewhere the high winds and heavy storms led to trees being uprooted and toppled throughout the area while hundreds of houses were left without powers for hours as the storms ripped through the region.

Fallen trees along Eashing Lane left the road road blocked , while motorists travelling along roads around Elstead reported their vehicles being struck by falling branches. One female motorist travelling through Elstead explained: "It was very frightening. I could hear parts of the trees landing on my car as I was driving, but I was too nervous to stop to see what damage there might have been to my car."

Rail services through Godalming were severely disrupted by the storm that ripped through the area, toppling a tree which fell onto the railway line at Milford, causing disruptions between Waterloo and Portsmouth.

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Comments

In passing by yesterday, I couldn't resist taking a closer look at the tree stump.... the recent excavations in the road appear to be of no consequence as the tree was clearly diseased, decayed (and had been for some considerable time).... I imagine the insurance claim will be quite large so the owners of the tree will no doubt be hoping they are properly insured!

By brainfuel at 09:45 on 06/01/12
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Thank you for your comment and keen observation to the tree in question.

Even the police report detailed the tree as being an oak.....

By PatHill at 13:35 on 04/01/12
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My thoughts are with the bus driver of course but I do wonder how much effort goes into the journalism - even the BBC have described the tree as an Oak tree!

The tree is clearly a lime, probably a common or European lime and also a previously pollarded specimen that was long overdue a crown reduction (possibly a factor when we look at past risk assessment'?

The other point that I'd like to make is that the road had recently been deeply excavated for a new gas main! - just a few weeks ago!
When I worked in Reading, I recall that several mature lime trees 'blew over' following the wreckless installation of data cable (for cable tv etc) in the late 1980's - the trees failed due to catastrophic root damage and I do wonder if this is why this tree succumbed to the high winds?

If so, the contractors could have a lot to answer for?

By brainfuel at 10:19 on 04/01/12
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