Man killed in Sumter County after tree falls on car in ‘freak accident,’ authorities say

Man killed in Sumter County after tree falls on car

A man was killed in Sumter County when a large tree toppled onto his moving vehicle in what authorities are calling a tragic and rare accident.

WILDWOOD, Fla. - A man was killed in Sumter County when a large tree toppled onto his moving vehicle in what authorities are calling a tragic and rare accident.

‘Freak, unfortunate accident’

What we know:

The man was killed in Wildwood, Sumter County, when the large tree suddenly fell onto his moving vehicle along County Road 501 near Marsh Bend Trail. 

The incident occurred while he was driving south, and he was the only person in the car. The Villages Fire Rescue responded to the scene and confirmed the tree crushed the vehicle, killing the driver instantly.  The victim was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not released the victim’s identity or the exact time of the incident. It remains unclear if any prior reports have been made about the condition of the tree or if there will be further review of trees along that route to prevent future incidents.

The backstory:

The tree involved had a thick trunk and appeared healthy on the surface, but officials say its shallow root system likely caused it to fall during high winds. Trees of this type are not typically viewed as hazards, and this one had not previously raised concerns.

What they're saying:

Authorities said there was nothing visibly wrong with the tree, which had a thick trunk but a shallow root system that may have given way under strong winds. The roadway has since reopened.

"It seemed like an old tree that just naturally fell off the side of the road," said Battalion Chief Mike Sapp, who has worked with The Villages Fire Rescue for 15 years. "It seemed like a shallow root base, and the wind must have just pushed it over. I’ve never really seen something quite like that."

Sapp described the timing of the incident as a heartbreaking stroke of misfortune.

"[We're] thinking about the gentleman and his family and everybody else," he said. "It’s a horrible, tragic accident that nobody could have seen coming."

Local resident Nate Vance, who drives the same route nearly every day, called it a "freak, unfortunate accident."

"These trees handle hurricanes," Vance said. "It hasn’t even crossed our minds to worry. It’s just a horrible tragedy."