1 dead after tree falls on east Charlotte apartments, Charlotte Fire says

A man died early Monday morning after a tree fell on an apartment building in east Charlotte, according to a police report.

It happened just before 2 a.m. at a three-story complex along Commonwealth Avenue.

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The police report from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says a tree was struck by lightning and fell onto the side of the apartment building, trapping multiple people inside.

The report lists one victim, a man, who died from the incident.

Channel 9 crews could see several first responders at the scene assessing the damage and making sure everyone else was OK.

Just after 2 a.m., firefighters rescued someone from a third-floor apartment. MEDIC said someone was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

The man who died was found in that same apartment, Charlotte Fire said.

Police have not yet released the victim’s identity to the public but are investigating the man’s death.

One man told Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz he was in one of the units when he heard a loud noise. Then, the tree came crashing through his window, crushing his door and trapping him inside his apartment. He said he has no idea how he made it out alive.

Another woman told Goetz she woke up to Charlotte firefighters breaking down her door and getting everyone in the surrounding units to safety.

More than a dozen Charlotte Fire units responded to the apartments. As some firefighters searched for people inside, others worked to shore up the building, which had become unstable and was in danger of collapsing, Charlotte Fire said.

By noon, workers were still removing the rest of the tree from the building. Workers told Goetz they would likely be there all day working in the area.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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