‘Terrifying’ video shows driver barely escaping a huge tree crashing onto Oregon road

A massive, snow-covered tree began to tumble toward an Oregon driver — and luckily he sped up.

Beau Appling, an employee with the Oregon Department of Transportation, was driving on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek on Monday, Dec. 27 when a tree started to fall.

Dash camera video shows the huge tree tilt toward the road right in front of Appling’s car. It slammed onto the interstate, narrowly missing several cars.

Appling sped underneath the tree, and his windshield was cracked by a branch, video shows. No one was hurt, the Department of Transportation said.

Oregon State Police and the Department of Transportation spent over an hour clearing the huge tree off the road.

“Had they not been there and willing to assist, the 1.5hr delay would have been much longer,” the department said on Twitter.

Photos show the tree covered multiple lanes of the interstate. Transportation officials said the tree crashing onto the roadway is an example of what can happen during the winter in Oregon.

“Appling’s experience is an example of other potential hazards besides rain, snow and ice during winter driving in Oregon,” officials said in a news release.

Some people on social media said the photos and video were scary. Others said it was great timing that no one was hurt.

“This is terrifying,” one person said. “Glad everyone is safe.”

Wolf Creek is about 225 miles south of Portland.

This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 11:54 AM with the headline "‘Terrifying’ video shows driver barely escaping a huge tree crashing onto Oregon road."