Driver Freed After Tree Collapses Onto Car In TST

Firefighters on Thursday freed a driver who was trapped in a luxury car that was hit by a falling high tree in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The incident happened at around 2.30pm at the junction of Haiphong Road and Hankow Road.

The rescued driver was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Architectural Services Department said a preliminary inspection found that internal decay at the base of the fallen tree, coupled with persistent rain recently, had caused the incident.

Officials said no signs of decay were seen on the branches, trunk and the surface of the roots during an inspection in April. The 12-metre tree was also not infected by fungi or pests, they said.

The department added that other trees nearby were stable, and it would conduct a more detailed inspection as soon as possible.

Ken So, chief executive of the Conservancy Association, told RTHK that the fallen tree, which was planted on a slope, was a candlenut tree – commonly found on roadsides – and was estimated to be more than 30 years old.

"The decay is an internal decay, so likely it may not have any signs from the outside of the tree trunk."

Haiphong Road was closed to traffic between Hankow Road and Canton Road because of the fallen tree, transport officials said.

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