Lucky escape as van collides with falling tree

The driver of the black VW van had no time to brake when the tree came down right in front of him on Powdermill Lane, near the junction with Lower Lake, just after 3.30pm on Wednesday (December 14).

Miraculously, despite part of the tree smashing the windscreen, the girl walked away uninjured.

The van driver, a 36-year-old Battle man, sustained cuts and bruises and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

The road was closed until 6.20pm whilst work was carried out to remove the van and tree.

Sergeant Paul Masterson, from Battle police, said: “The tree landed in the road in front of the vehicle, so they literally had no time to stop.

“In these sort of whether conditions we have trees down all over the place.

“It’s something drivers have got to be aware of.”