Tree Limbs Fall Over Town, Halt Raritan Valley Line

Wednesday's heavy winds have caused many tree, tree limbs and branches to fall around Westfield, including one which halted the Raritan Valley train line.

A west bound train on the Raritan Valley line ran over a fallen tree limb in Westfield on the town line with Scotch Plains this afternoon. The train was stopped while repair crews had to respond to remove the limb. Service on the train line was suspended because of the fallen tree limb.

The Weather Channel said winds were blowing at 26 mph in town, gusting up to 44 mph.

A complete count of fallen tree limbs is unavailable. Police Captain Clifford Auchter said that calls have been coming in all day and a complete list has not been put together. This includes large branches. This account is confirmed by a Department of Public Works employee, who said the radio in his truck has been buzzing all day about branches down around town.

A large tree limb fell off a tree behind the parking lot behind Starbucks, landing on the hood of an SUV. The black Nissan SUV, recently purchases with a temporary license plate in the back window, appeared relatively unscathed. Some scratches appeared on the hood of the car but the body and windshield were not damaged. The DPW took the limb down and police were attempting to track down the car's owner.

This is the second time in just over a week a tree limb fell in this parking lot. Last Tuesday, a tree limb in a tree next to Wednesday's tree fell, almost hitting a man in the head. This tree limb also brushed against a car, causing scratches to the car.

Several large branches fell off of trees on North Avenue next to the United Methodist Church. The branches blocked off parts of the sidewalk on North Avenue until county tree officials could come to remove the remains. Small branches could be seen falling off of trees along North Avenue and around town. A police car sitting in the parking lot behind Banana Republic could be seen moving when the wind picked up as to not be under the tree at the edge of the parking lot.

Tree limbs appeared not to be the only things being tossed around in the wind. Garbage cans and flower pots were seen blown into the streets around town. A garbage can on West Grove Street near the intersection with Rahway Avenue was causing traffic as one lane was blocked off. Leaves were seen swirling on various streets around town and what appeared to either be a broken up cardboard box or brown wrapping paper was blowing along South Avenue.