Tree falls on apartment building, nearly trapping resident inside

Herman Hart looks out the door of his apartment on Wednesday, Dec. 9, after a tree fell on his building at 1421 Huffman Ave. The four-unit apartment building is owned by Sam Hale, 85, of Dayton, who was on the scene surveying the damage and preparing to call a service to clean up the downed tree he estimated once stood 75 feet.

Chris Stewart/Staff Photo Herman Hart looks out the door of his apartment on Wednesday, Dec. 9, after a tree fell on his building at 1421 Huffman Ave. The four-unit apartment building is owned by Sam Hale, 85, of Dayton, who was on the scene surveying the damage and preparing to call a service to clean up the downed tree he estimated once stood 75 feet.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Wind causes damage
See weather photos from iWitness7 reporters At my.whiotv.com

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Herman Hart looks out the door of his apartment on Wednesday, Dec. 9, after a tree fell on his building at 1421 Huffman Ave.

Chris Stewart/Staff Photograoher Herman Hart looks out the door of his apartment on Wednesday, Dec. 9, after a tree fell on his building at 1421 Huffman Ave.

By Ben McLaughlin and Chris Stewart
Staff Writer Updated 12:50 PM Wednesday, December 9, 2009

DAYTON -- Herman Hart, 65, said he was worried about missing work Wednesday, Dec. 9. But he has a valid excuse for his employers at Supply Technologies in Vandalia, where he works in the warehouse: he could barely squeeze out his apartment door.

A large hackberry tree straddling the property line between his apartment building at 1421 Huffman Avenue and a neighboring house toppled onto Hart's roof and porch, preventing his door from opening barely more than a foot.

Hart, an 8-year resident at the building, said he heard a crash at 5:50 a.m. as he was getting up for work. "I knew one of the trees fell," he said.

The four-unit apartment building is owned by Sam Hale, 85, of Dayton, who was on the scene surveying the damage and preparing to call a service to clean up the downed tree he estimated once stood 75 feet.

There may be more work in store for Miami Valley area tree services throughout the day as the National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning through 1 a.m. Thursday with gusts up to 60 mph predicted.

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