Large tree falls on 2 cars, temporarily cuts out power for some on Milwaukee's east side

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Crews from the Forestry Division of Milwaukee’s Public Works Department are working to remove a large tree on Woodstock Place on the city’s east side.

The Labor Day holiday and issues with machinery are causing the tree removal to take longer than expected. As of 11 a.m., Woodstock Place was still blocked off between Lake Dr. And Summit.

The tree came down just before 1 a.m., and neighbors across the street could see and hear the tree fall.

“I saw through the window a really bright flash of light,” said Michael Griffiths, who was staying at his mom's, across the street. “I walked out with a lot of other people around one in the morning, a little before, I walked out here and saw that this had fallen down and taken the power out.”

The tree landed on power lines and two cars. DPW crews have been on the scene since about 1:30 a.m. They say failure of the hydraulic line on one of Forestry’s equipment, an apprentice loader for loading large tree pieces, is broken. So crews had to pause activity for some time to replace the part.

According to neighbors, an arborist on the scene says the tree was 150 years old. They believe the tree was rotted, and it may have been heavier on one side to prevent it from falling on the building.

No one was hurt when the tree came down.