Lucky escape after tree fall

By Kelly Yates and Mark Clancy
A HALLAM man has told of his close call after a falling mountain ash tree narrowly missed his car when he was visiting the Dandenong Ranges over the weekend.
The 80 metre tree snapped and fell in front of Wal Dower’s car last Saturday morning, only just missing the car in front of him.
Mr Dower and his wife Jan were driving along Kallista Emerald Road to take photos at Sherbrooke Forest when he saw the tree snap about 20 metres from its base and fall towards a red Holden Nova in front of him about 10.25am.
“We were about six to eight car lengths behind the red car.
“We could see the tree start to fall in front of us. It was like something out of a movie,” Mr Dower said.
He said he thought he was looking at a tragedy unfolding as the tree headed towards the car.
“Right up to the last second it looked like it was going to land on his car,” he said.
The 60-year-old said he saw the Holden bounce from the impact of the tree branches hitting it as the metre thick trunk of the tree fell just behind the car.
The driver of the Holden, Ted Kennedy from Olinda, said he was trying to find a parking space so he could go to Kallista market when the incident happened.
“I had my window down. I could hear this cracking noise. We have trees on our property so I know the sound,” Mr Kennedy said.
“There was so much noise. I didn’t even realise where it was, it was just all noise, and I thought ‘I’ve got to get out of here’,” he said.
Mr Kennedy put his foot down on the accelerator and, according to him, it was lucky he did.
“I can’t believe I survived it. I just feel incredibly lucky.”
And Mr Dower said he also felt lucky to have survived the incident.
“We were in shock afterwards and thought another three seconds and it could have been us,” he said.
The Holden was left with a shattered windscreen and dented bodywork.