(Buford, Ga., October 29, 2020) – Two people died after a large hardwood tree crashed through the roof and wall of their home on the 500 block of W. Garner Street, NW in Buford. The man and woman were found in the bed and were pinned by the trunk and limbs of the tree. The couple was deceased at the scene.

Firefighters and police were called to the address at 12:26 p.m. after the brother of the male occupant was unable to reach anyone at the house and drove to the location to check on them. He discovered the tree on the house and vehicles in the driveway. The man was unable to gain access to the bedroom due to the damage and was not able to make contact with his brother.

Crews arrived to find the roof collapsed over the majority of the structure and immediately worked to gain a visual inside the bedroom. The Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team assessed the structural integrity and began recovery operations. Willard Wrecker Services provided a boom and winch combination to assist with stabilizing the tree as firefighters cut away the limbs with chainsaws.

This is a very tragic situation for the family and the community. The incident demonstrates the magnitude of the powerful wind gusts during the aftermath of Tropical Storm Zeta. The exact time the tree fell is unknown, but is believed to have happened as the storm moved through the area.

The Fire-PIO is unable to identify the man and woman due to Federal Patient Privacy Laws known as HIPAA. The names will be released by the Medical Examiner’s Office when available.

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