Woman fearful of driving after tree lands on car

Verosha Pillay thought death was imminent when the car in which she was travelling was stuck by a falling blue gum tree.

Ashley (left) and Kyle Simons were driving on Great North Road, with Verosha Pillay, when a tree fell on the car in which they were travelling.

The 30-year-old was driving along Great North Road, on February 6, with cousins Ashley (18) and Kyle Simons (18).

The trio had just come from a pharmacy on Great North Road and were heading to Pillay’s home, in Bonaero Park.

Soon after the intersection of Great North and High roads – travelling towards Kempton Park – she heard a noise.

“I was driving slowly, when I heard the cracking of a tree,” said Pillay.

“I heard Ashley shout and, when I looked to the side, I saw a small branch and thought I would slow down enough for it to fall in front of me, not realising a huge trunk would fall.”

The tree landed on the bonnet and windscreen of the white Mercedes C180.

“The impact of the tree stopped the vehicle dead in its tracks,” Pillay added.

“If we were travelling any faster the tree would have hit us head-on; we would have been dead.”

She said the incident was “terrifying” and that she has not driven a car or sat in the front seat of one since the ordeal.

She does not think she will drive a vehicle for the next month or two, as she is still shaken.

The victims did not sustain serious injuries.