WILDWOOD, FL – A tragic accident unfolded in Sumter County when a man was killed after a tree fell onto his car while he was driving along Marsh Bend Trail, also known as County Road 501, near parts of The Villages and the Coleman Correctional Complex.
A witness driving behind the victim recounted the shocking scene that occurred Thursday. The massive tree collapsed unexpectedly, crushing the car and leaving the driver with no time to react. “I was shocked,” the witness said, adding that they narrowly avoided the same fate by stopping just short of the fallen tree.
By Thursday evening, remnants of the tree remained by the roadside, its roots towering over passersby. Local drivers expressed disbelief over the incident, noting that such occurrences are incredibly rare. One resident remarked, “You probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than having a tree fall on you.”
Tragically, this is not an isolated incident in Central Florida. Last year, a similar accident claimed the life of a 14-year-old girl in Orange County when a tree fell on the vehicle she was riding in. These events serve as a grim reminder of the unpredictable nature of such dangers.
As of Thursday night, authorities had not released the identity of the man who perished in the Wildwood accident. Police confirmed that the tree fell naturally, and the victim was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
The community continues to grapple with the shock of the incident, with many residents now more aware of the potential hazards posed by the region’s tree-lined roads.