A motorist has had a lucky escape after narrowly avoiding being crushed by a large tree which has fallen across the main road at Downend tonight (Saturday).
Police have closed Downend Road between Burnt House Lane and Arreton Cross as a result of the obstruction to the highway.
A large tree – understood to be an Elm – has fallen across the entire width of the road.
As the tree crashed to the ground – at around 21:00 – a blue Nissan Pixo travelling northbound narrowly avoided being crushed. Although the driver was shaken, she was otherwise unharmed – but recognises just a second or two earlier and it would have been a different outcome.
Island Roads has been alerted to the situation with a tree surgeon contractor expected to be deployed to remove the tree.
Southern Vectis buses are diverting via Blackwater in both directions until further notice. As a result, stops on Long Lane and at Robin Hill are not being served.
The road is expected to remain closed for several hours due to the sheer size of the fallen tree.
UPDATE – Downend Road has now reopened.
Does that make it a trunk road?
They are branching out, so it could be.
Great way to stop speeding on the island, leave
fallen trees in the road.
Boom! Boom!
Good job it was a tree and not a rock fall, as it would be another road shut for months waiting for consultants to assess.
Good point, the Ventnor rock fiasco
is a complete joke.
“the Ventnor rock fiasco is a complete joke”
but it does stop people speeding…. so presumably you’re in favour of it staying like it is
I am in favour of all roads being open but more
speed humps being installed to stop numpty
motorists speeding, what’s the rush, anyone would
think they have somewhere to go!
Lol