Two people escape unharmed when tree crashes through mobile home

Two people are lucky to be alive in Orcutt after a massive pine tree fell through a mobile home. The tree, estimated to be at least 40 years old, came crashing down at Orcutt Ranch Estates during a violent storm Sunday morning.

“The wind was really, really strong, probably 60 miles per hour or more and it was raining really hard,” said park resident Andy Massey.

Massey, who lives down the street from the damaged residence, took time out of his day Monday afternoon to check out the destruction. He’s not surprised to see the tree go down.

“It’s pretty scary because there’s a lot of big trees around here with the drought and with all the rain and wind,” said Massey.”There’s been several trees that have gone down.”

As the tree came down, park management said there were two people inside the mobile home. Fortunately, both escaped the harrowing experience unharmed.

“Very amazing because that tree could have crushed that entire trailer,” Massey said. “Luckily, it just caught the corner of the trailer and didn’t come down in the dead center of it.”

Management noted all trees inside the park are regularly inspected. The fallen tree passed its last inspection and had also been pruned.

The tree was located directly across the street from the park’s management office. Recently installed surveillance cameras caught the entire incident on tape.

The mobile home is likely a total loss. As workers removed the tree Monday afternoon, it stood as a reminder of the destructive force of nature.

“I see a lot of people getting stuck in water and stuff and you have to be aware of your surroundings and be safe,” said Massey.