‘Lucky to be alive’: Storm topples trees into multiple Central Virginia homes
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County man is thankful his brother is alive after Thursday's storm knocked a tree into his home -- and he's not the only one who ended up with a tree through their roof.
A fast-moving storm system tore through Central Virginia on Thursday, June 19, leaving behind a trail of damage -- from uprooted trees to crushed rooftops.
In the Bon Air area of Chesterfield, Chris Dimitris said he is still shaken after a large tree came crashing into his home on Pinetta Drive.
A tree down on a home in Chesterfield County on June 19. (Photo: Jordan Vance/8News)
A tree down on a home in Chesterfield County on June 19. (Photo: Jordan Vance/8News)
"I’ve seen houses get hit by trees," he said, while walking through the damage. "But never my house."
Strong winds swept through the area in just a matter of minutes on Thursday, toppling the tree onto Dimitris’ roof. Though he wasn’t home at the time, his brother was inside.
Dimitris showed 8News reporter Sara Molina his living room, which was destroyed by the tree.
"My brother was laying right there," Dimitris told Molina, pointing to the couch, pictured below. "He said, ‘Man, I’m lucky to be alive. If I had been sitting up, I would be dead.’"
The couch a Chesterfield resident's brother was laying on when a tree fell into his home on June 19. (Photo: Jakobi Davis/8News)
Inside view of the damage caused by a tree falling on a Chesterfield home on June 19. (Photo: Jakobi Davis/8News)
In Henrico County, a massive tree was uprooted on Ironington Road, falling into a house that neighbors said was unoccupied and up for sale.
Sarah Navarrette, who lives next door, said she and her husband watched the moment it fell.
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"We were standing right here in the front yard watching it fall," she said. "It was just like this creek, and then just 'bam,' right into the house."
A tree down on a home in Henrico County on June 19. (Photo: Sara Molina/8News)
According to local storm damage reports, at least two other homes were also hit by fallen trees -- one in Hanover County and one in Northumberland County.
Dimitris and Navarrette said they’re thankful things didn’t turn out worse.
"The tree removal guy came by,” Dimitris said. "He said [that,] if it were not a brick house, [the tree] would’ve just collapsed the whole thing -- and my brother would be dead."
At the storm's peak, nearly 90,000 homes and businesses in Central Virginia were without power due to the storm.
Cleanup efforts are now underway across the region, but officials urge anyone who spots downed trees or power lines to stay clear and report them immediately.
