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Powerful Storms Send Trees Crashing Down In New Jersey

SPARTA, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Storms tore through the Tri-State Area Wednesday evening, leaving behind major damage in some areas.

As CBS2's Jessica Layton reported, heavy branches were torn from trees, and some came down on cars and brought down power lines in parts of New Jersey.

In Sparta, three giant trees came crashing down and were left sprawled across the road.

"The wind was crazy, the rain was crazy, and it was like swirling around in circles," said Rachel Sanford of Sparta, New Jersey.

Sanford can't stand storms. So it was more than a little frightening when fierce winds came cutting across her street in Sparta -- leaving behind a pile of fallen trees in a matter of minutes.

"It looks like there's a forest in the middle of the street," Sanford said.

The mess of mangled tree trunks, snapped branches and torn up leaves from the three giant trees completely covered this section of East Shore Line Trail.

"I've never seen anything like it before," Sanford said.

Rachel's mother, Julia Sanford, went from painting all day to panicking, when she considered the storm came through right when Rachel is usually driving back from work. On Wednesday, she was already home.

"It would have all fallen right on top of her – on top of her," Julia Sanford said.

Under the light of the moon, debris was visible from parts of spruce and ash trees that fell on the Sanfords' garage and their neighbors' yard. But they've got things in perspective, saying it's only property.

"I'm glad everybody's OK," Rachel Sanford said.

More than 3,000 customers were left without power in and around Sparta. Cleanup was set to begin Thursday morning.

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