Oak Tree Snaps On Staten Island, Knocking Out Power For 200 Customers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A section of a massive tree came crashing down Tuesday in a Staten Island neighborhood, and there wasn't a storm in sight.

As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, it knocked out power lines and crushed cars.

Micheal Boylan was outside when two large branches fell from the oak tree at the corner of Bard and Delafield avenues in West Brighton.

"You just heard a big crack, and then you just heard it fall," Boylan said.

Boylan took pictures of the aftermath, showing a branch that crushed an SUV and two cars completely covered by trees. CBS2 also saw a street light taken out by the tree and balancing on top of a van.

"It's a mess," one woman said.

The branches took out several utility lines, leaving nearly 200 Con Edison customers without power.

Crews worked well into the night to repair the damage.

Residents say it appears the tree was falling apart from the inside out.

"It was very rotted out," said Mary Anne Boylan. "So I guess that's what happened. It wasn't a windy day. It wasn't a rainy. It just split."

City work crews told CBS2 what's left of the tree is very unstable. A private contractor is expected to return Wednesday morning to take down the rest.