‘Day to live’ tree drops line

By EMMA SUN
A TREE due to be knocked down the following day was the cause of the fallen power lines in Mount Evelyn last Monday.
The tree also took out a carport, flattening a car inside it and also the corner of a nearby house on Priestley Crescent.
A man was trapped for about half an hour when a high-voltage powerline fell onto his white Toyota four wheel-drove at about 4pm.
Police from Mount Evelyn diverted traffic away from the street for about an hour while firefighters and the electricity company worked to free the man.
Mount Evelyn CFA second lieutenant Rick Ventrella said power was down at three houses, but their main priority was the safety of the man.
“I called him and told him to stay in the car and we made the scene safe,” he said.
The power company arrived about half an hour later.
Mr Ventrella said the crews actually removed the power line before shutting the grid down.
He said the job went very smoothly and praised all involved.
“Ironically, the tree that fell was supposed to be knocked down the next day,” he said.
“Everything went quite smoothly and we’re very happy with the result.”