OCALA, Fla. (WOGX FOX 51) -
A huge oak tree came crashing down at an Ocala apartment complex during storms late Tuesday afternoon. Strong winds bent the tree, cracking it at the base, and then sent it flying into two buildings at the Villas West Apartments. Both buildings were still without power almost 24 hours later.
Robert Johnston was in the apartment parking lot in a car with his family when he says he heard the rain pick up, then the hail.
"It was about that big," the 12-year-old boy said gesturing with his fingers what looked like golf ball size hail. "That's the biggest hail I saw!"
He watched as first a tree in the front of the complex smashed into the apartments, then another tree cracked and split down the middle, landing right on a neighbor's SUV.
Crews spent the better part of this Independence Day holiday removing some of the fallen trees and the debris in the road.
"It was crazy. I didn't know what to do... lots of wind, rain, ice was falling everywhere," said Ashley Murray. "People were saying a tornado was coming. I threw my kids in the tub and put a mattress over them."
At this point, weather experts are saying it was simply a bad thunderstorm and not a tornado. Four families were asked to leave the area, as several buildings were without power. These families are staying with family and friends.
