Storm causes tree to crush Collier home with 8 people inside

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- A family of eight, including an infant and dog scrambled from their Golden Gate home after a tree came crashing through the roof.

“It looked like a mini microburst,” said Eric Adaline who saw a tree fall on a home. “It was bad.”

One family on 22nd Place Southwest felt the storm’s fury and had to run from the home.

“They told me to get out because it is falling down and water is in the house,” said Eula Fowler who rents the home for her family.

Joshua Fowler felt it firsthand when the tree came crashing down, it smashed him in the head.

“The top part of the roof pushed me into the doorway and into the wall. My head hit the doorway and I scooted under all of the stuff to make sure everyone was alright.”

All of the people inside the home made it out okay. Josh Fowler was the only one who was injured with cuts on his head.

“I think the lightning hit that tree right there and knocked the tree into the house. It crushed it on the inside,” said Eula Fowler.

The family is being helped by the Red Cross but will only have a place to stay for three days. The homeowner says they will not refund this month’s rent they paid just days ago, but agreed to give them their security deposit back.