Two Oxford women driving through Orion Friday, April 4 took on an uninvited and unexpected passenger that could have cost them their lives.
Marilynn Toteff, 71, and her daughter Susan Walton, 47, were traveling east on Indianwood Road, just east of Absequami Road, at about 8:20 a.m., when a ‘humongous tree? fell out of the woods, over the guardrail and into the middle of the road.
Toteff said her daughter immediately ‘slammed on the brakes,? when all of the sudden a branch ? estimated to be 8 inches in diameter ? broke off and crashed through the driver’s side windshield of the 2001 Pontiac minivan.
The large tree fell as a result of April 3 ice storm, which downed many trees, limbs and branches in the Oxford/Orion area by coating them with heavy amounts of ice.
‘I was in such shock,? Toteff said. ‘I just started shaking.?
‘Everything was a mess inside (the minivan),? she added. ‘We had broken glass in our shoes and purses.?
The branch blocked Walton from the driver’s side door, so both ladies were forced to exit on the passenger side.
Amazingly, the only injuries the ladies received were a couple of cut fingers and a bruised elbow.
Toteff said she believes their health and lives were spared because ‘we had angels all around us.?
However, the minivan was not so lucky.
‘It was totalled,? Toteff said.
Some unidentified motorists stopped to help the ladies before police and fire personnel arrived.
One of the good samaritans, named Mike, helped Toteff to keep warm by allowing her to sit inside his truck.
‘Their concern for us was overwhelming,? Toteff said.