Municipal tree comes down on woman’s car
The driver has consistently used the same road when heading home for the past 15 years, until a tree came crushing down on her vehicle.

A municipal tree came down, crushing an Alberton woman’s car, leaving her distraught and panicked. Maeve van Heerden was driving home from work last year on the afternoon of December 6.
“I was driving on the normal route that I have driven on for the past 15 years and while driving past, the tree came crashing down on my car.
“For a moment, I was stuck under the tree and had to reverse to get out of the car. The tree fell from across the road on my car,” recalled Van Heerden.
The accident took place on Arnold Street in Alrode, Alberton. The tree that fell on Van Heerden’s car looks like it broke from the bottom. Fortunately, she was not injured and nobody walking near the tree got hurt either.

Asked how she was feeling after the scary ordeal, she said: “Physically I am fine but I am emotionally still a wreck. I am grateful to God that there was not somebody else or children on that road when the tree fell.”
Van Heerden is still in the process of claiming from the municipality through the public liability procedure. This process allows anyone to claim from the municipality.
Van Heerden’s accident happened a mere two months away from her retirement and the Alberton veteran warns members of the public to be cautious when driving.
“I just wanted to tell my story and warn everyone that trees on the municipal pavements are not always safe because of a lack of maintenance,” concluded Van Heerden.
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