Family escapes death as large tree falls on their car

A mother, grandmother and three children were in shock last night having narrowly escaped death or injury when a tree fell on their car in Co Laois yesterday.

Ballylynan native Collette Brennan (36) had just collected her mother Mary (78) when her car was struck by a large falling tree on the Block Road in Portlaoise, Co Laois, at about 4.30pm.

The car, also carrying 13-week-old Ollie, 8-year-old Eoin and 12-year-old Ella, was flung towards the gateway of a house by the force of the impact.

Ms Brennan's husband Oliver said his wife and family were still in shock last night. "I'd say there could be 40 tonnes in that tree," Mr Brennan said after recovering the car.

“She was collecting her mother from day care and one [tree] just fell behind the car - and then the bigger one fell,” he explained.

Mr Brennan said “the tree actually flung them over into the gateway of a house and broke live lines, and that came down on top of them”.

The main trunk of the tree was only a few feet from the centre of the car, he said. “Such is life... it shows you how quick your family can be wiped out,” he remarked.

While unhurt, the Brennan family were badly shocked by the incident. “The daughter got a terrible fright,” said Mr Brennan.

Baby Ollie wasn’t aware of what happened and the family were comforted and given shelter by the owners of a house close to where the car came to a halt.

While the car windscreen and side pillars were damaged, Mr Brennan was able to drive it back to the family home. He expected the tree to remain on the road overnight as firemen had told him they didn’t have equipment large enough to remove it.