KEY POINTS:
A motorist was almost crushed yesterday as he drove beneath a large tree that was in the process of toppling over.
The near-miss was caught on camera by a Nelson resident and posted on video sharing website YouTube.
Police surrounded the tree, which stood outside Liquor King on the intersection of Collingwood and Hardy Streets in the middle of Nelson, as it swayed in high winds for some time before finally coming down with a loud thud just as a red car passed underneath.
Cameraman Dave Finlay said the driver had done a U-turn on Collingworth St about 3.30pm and drove back towards the tree. Police had run towards his vehicle to try and stop him from driving but it was too late.
"We were just driving around checking out what was happening in the town because the electricity had gone out, it was pretty windy," Mr Finlay said.
"We ended up there, there were a few people hanging around so we stood there and waited and that idiot did a U-Turn just as the tree fell and he was pretty lucky."
He said the man then stopped further up the road and police ran to speak with him.
"Everyone was urging the tree to fall and when it did, and that happened, everyone thought 'What was that guy smoking?'.
"[The tree] was breaking up the pavement so we knew it was going to fall at some point but to be honest I didn't think it would fall while we were there, I thought it would be a bit stronger than that."
YouTube viewers were shocked at the lucky escape and many left comments on the website.
"Wow, I was standing where the cameraman was as well!!!. that man was so lucky," said one viewer.
Another added: "Just shows what being in the right spot at the right time helps - hope it goes all the way round the world."
