Seven cars crushed by 350-year-old tree in Pleasant Hill

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. - Seven cars were crushed by a large chunk of a 350-year-old tree that fell Wednesday night in Pleasant Hill.

Witnesses say the live oak came down just after midnight on Hardy Circle near Patterson Boulevard. It doesn't appear as though anyone was injured and there was no immediate damage to the cost of the cars. Many neighbors came outside early in the morning to inspect the wreckage.

"It sounded like a home run hit with a wooden bat," said Audra Cudd-Wahle. The debris from the tree is on her property and the city told her it's her responsibility to clean it up. 

She pointed to a one-ton Chevy truck: "It's been squished."

It’s unclear why the tree fell but a sign on the tree called it "bicentennial heritage tree," which is protected by the city and is a designation for any tree that is 16 inches in diameter or larger. A sign on the tree also says the name of the tree is "Emma." 

On Thursday, work crews will start removing the tree. The damaged cars have already been towed out of the neighborhood.