Donegal, Ireland— A driver was injured after severe coastal gusts caused a tree to collapse onto a moving car in Donegal on October 22, 2026.
The incident happened at 2:30 p.m. on the R245 near Creeslough, a coastal road lined with mature trees. Winds were gusting to 110 kilometers per hour as a Atlantic low pressure system brushed the northwest. The tree, a large spruce with shallow roots, snapped at the base and fell across both lanes as a car approached.
The driver, a man in his 40s, had no time to stop. The trunk struck the roof and windscreen, crushing the cabin. The car spun into a ditch. Passing motorists stopped and flagged down a council truck. They pulled branches off to reach the man.
Donegal County Council and fire crews from Letterkenny arrived in 15 minutes. They found the man trapped by the roof, conscious, bleeding from head wounds and complaining of chest pain. Chainsaws were used to cut the tree while paramedics held his neck stable. It took 30 minutes to free him.
“He was lucky. If the tree had hit a second later, it would have gone straight through the windscreen,” said a fire officer at the scene. “The winds were ferocious. We could barely stand.”
The driver was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, including a fractured collarbone, lacerations and concussion. No other vehicles were involved.
Met Éireann had issued a Status Orange wind warning for Donegal from noon until midnight, warning of severe coastal gusts, fallen trees and power outages. Several other roads in the county were blocked by debris. About 200 homes lost power near Dunfanaghy.
The council has closed the R245 for inspection of other trees. Arborists will check for root damage along the route. Motorists have been told to avoid coastal roads until winds ease.
The council said, “We are clearing fallen trees as fast as we can, but conditions remain dangerous.” The driver is expected to recover.
The incident remains under review for road safety reporting. The road reopened at 6 p.m. after debris was cleared.
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