Tree falls on sleeping woman

A MOTHER of six escaped near death yesterday when a 60-foot “hog” plum tree came crashing down on her house, causing a concrete wall to topple on her while she slept in a bedroom. Lori Ann Glasgow, of Fyzabad, suffered a blow and a cut to her head, as well as several other abrasions about her hands and feet. Glasgow’s daughter, Ruth, remarked that it was nothing short of a miracle that their mother walked out of the freak accident. Ruth, 19, said with a sigh: “She does pray plenty. Thank God for that.” 

Ruth added the freak accident occurred after numerous complaints to the land owners to trim or cut down the tree. “We tired complain about that tree and about falling branches. We even called the police but nothing was ever done about it.” The tree, which was said to be more than 20 years old, is located behind Glasgow’s house at John Jules Trace, on land belonging to a neighbour. The tree broke through a steel beam roof and galvanise, which caused the walls of the unfinished flat concrete house to cave in onto the sleeping woman. 

Another daughter, Rachel, 14, told Sunday Newsday that it was shortly after midday during a heavy downpour of rain that she was mopping the living room while their mother lay asleep in one of the four bedrooms. Rachel recalled: “It was raining and all of a sudden like I hear thunder roll. When I watch up I saw the roof was open. I bawl out and Mommy bawl out ‘Oh God!’ and ran outside. She had blood running down her face, and broken piece of bricks on her head.” After a few minutes, relatives said Glasgow began experiencing headaches and dizziness. An ambulance took her to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) where she received medical treatment up to late evening. The Siparia Fire Service responded to the scene, and equipped with power saws, fire Officers Mahadeo, Mohammed and Calder, led by FSSO Ramnanan, assisted the Glasgow family in cutting up the tree and clean-up operations.