Close call for pregnant woman when tree falls on home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Repairs are being made to a Murray Hill home after a large tree crashed through the roof Tuesday night -- minutes after a pregnant woman came outside.

Lauren Williams, who is seven months pregnant, said she doesn't know what she's going to do. Limbs and other parts of the tree were strewn all over the front yard of the Plum Street house on Wednesday.

Williams gave News4Jax a closer look at the damage on Wednesday.

"Obviously the tea set won't be replaceable," Williams said. "That's something a family thing that was passed down to us."

Williams said her fiance alerted her that the rotting tree outside of the home was being cut down. The landlord, who hired the tree-trimmers, hadn't told Williams they were coming, she said.

"There's no telling what could've happened with me or the baby," Williams said.
The landlord, Garry McIntyre, said he had issued Williams an eviction notice and figured she was gone since he hadn't heard from her.

"We have called her 50 times in the last few weeks. She has never answered her phone," McIntyre said. "The tree actually fell accidentally. Yes, there was a licensed tree surgeon doing the tree, cutting it down. They don't want their name mentioned."

Williams said McIntyre had known for some time that the tree needed to come down. But McIntyre said he found out about it just earlier this month.

Jason Padgett with Robert's Tree Service offered some advice for questions to ask before hiring a tree-trimmer, starting with whether the service is licensed. Robert's Tree Service did not cut the tree at McIntyre's property.

"The biggest error people make when they call and hire a tree company is not asking for the proper information (about) the workers' compensation," Padgett said.

He said having a tree-trimmer that doesn't have workers' compensation and liability insurance could mean money out of the homeowner's pocket, if there are damages.

In this case, McIntyre said he's paying for the damage to the home, while Williams is trying to figure out what she's going to do.

"I'm just really disappointed and sad because what am I supposed to do," Williams said.
The Red Cross is helping Williams with money for three days at a hotel and food. She said she still has to figure out what she needs to do after that.