Massive tree branch crushes two vehicles in Socastee area

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – First responders were dispatched after a massive tree branch came down on some vehicles Wednesday afternoon in the Socastee area.

According to information from Horry County Fire Rescue, the branch came down around 1:15 p.m. in the 100 block of Willow Ridge Road.

The homeowner said that thankfully no one was hurt, except for a car and minivan which were severely damaged by the large branch that broke off a neighbor’s tree.

Neighbor Ken Griffey said he heard a loud rumbling and got up to see what happened. He found that the branch nearly missed the homes and landed on the vehicles.

“I heard a rumble and thought it was something else. I had gotten up to check and saw this whole thing come down. Inside the house I couldn’t hear it clearly, but the people over here thought it hit our house it was so loud,” Griffey said.

HCFR officials said they are able to remove some downed trees, “but this one was too big for our abilities.”

Griffey believes it wasn’t the wind but the heavy rains brought on by Tropical Storm Bertha that caused the tree branch to snap off and crash down on the cars.

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