Tree falls on Eagle Lake home

Just before 6:40 p.m., a tree fell on an Eagle Lake home after a scattered storm hit the area.

Verda Sanchez, 56, was alerted to the weather by her daughter, Anna Sanchez, 36. “Look at the wind, she said. It was blowing with the storm and then it changed and was blowing against it, this way,” motioned Sanchez. “Then, I don’t know exactly what happened but I heard a pop and then a crack. The house started to lean that way and my daughter was trapped. I stepped to get her and the floor was loose so I stepped back. She was knocked out after the kitchen ceiling fell on her. I knew I had to get her out so I pulled her,” said Sanchez.

A tree on the house at Eagle Lake. Photo by David Day

The kitchen of the elevated house is near the front, on the second floor, near the street. Anna was in the kitchen and her mother pulled her towards the bedroom nearest the street at the back of the house. “Anna came out of it and immediately asked about her daughter, Jasmine, 10, who was at the church. I had to repeat several times Jasmine was okay and at church then Anna told me she couldn’t see.”

After pulling Anna to the bedroom, Verda and Anna were trapped in the room nearest the street. A power line was under the tree and still charged creating a dangerous situation.

A tree on the house at Eagle Lake. Photo by David Day

Help arrives

A local resident made first contact with them and they reported they were okay. The Vicksburg Daily News was second on the scene and they repeated they were fine but wanted to get out right away. They were worried the house was going to fall the rest of the way in. They were convinced to stay in that room until trained first responders arrived to safely help them from the structure.

Chris Libbey and Ann Dahl with the Eagle Lake fire department arrived a couple of minutes later. Libbey removed a ladder from the firetruck and helped mother and daughter, along with their pet rabbit, from the structure. Once Anna was out there was an obvious injury to her forehead where debris from the kitchen hit her and knocked her out. Libbey insisted she sit and wait on paramedics who treated her at the scene and then transferred her to the hospital. Anna was unaware of the injury until it was pointed out to her. There is no word on her condition at this time.

John Elfer with Warren County Emergency Management traveled to the location and was able to arrange Red Cross assistance for the family.

Twin County power arrived less than an hour after the collapse and secured the power line.

A new car was trapped under the debris. Photo by David Day

Jasmine was at church

“I was at the church and a man came to get me. He said I need you to come with me,” said a very composed and well-spoken Jasmine, 10. “On the way, he said everyone was okay and not to worry. When I got here and saw the tree was on the house I remembered he said everyone was okay and went to my mom who was sitting in a chair.”

Summing it up, a very much in control Verda Sanchez said, “Looking at it now, we were so blessed. It could have been so much worse.”

A red truck was crushed by the fallen tree. Photo by David Day