Wind causes extensive damage throughout area

SAUGUS – Whipping winds caused several trees to come crashing down Friday afternoon in several communities as crews fervently worked to restore power to homes, traffic lights and clear the messy aftermath.In total, four mature trees proved to be no match to the estimated 45 mph windstorm that swooped in late Thursday and is expected to remain over the Northeast throughout most of the weekend, gradually diminishing by Sunday.Saugus Town Administrator Joe Attubato said the most significant damage occurred at 30 Newhall St. where a large tree toppled over from the opposite side of the street onto a home and smashed the rear window of an SUV in the driveway.”From what I could tell, the overhang on the house came crashing down from the weight of the tree and there was a lot of damage to the car too,” he said.Power to the sewer substation and traffic lights along Ballard Street were knocked out due to the tree mishap around 4 p.m. and were restored a short time later.Another hefty tree became uprooted around the same time on Main Street and landed on electricity wires before coming to a rest in the middle of the road.Police blocked off a section of the road and redirected traffic as crews worked to dismantle the tree from the tangled wires.”I would say that tree was about 100 years old from the looks of it,” he said. “But the good thing was that it landed on the electric wires and not a house, so it saved a lot of damage from happening.”Two other incidents occurred where a tree partially blocked Jasper Street and another tree crashed into a wooded area near several homes on Kennedy Drive.Attubato said the Kennedy Drive incident would be cleared away today.Feisty winds also affected the city of Lynn, where a tree fell on a vehicle near High Rock Tower and another tree crashed into a vehicle on Lynnfield Street.In Peabody, a tree crashed into a home and knocked down wires at 25 Kingdom Terrace. Police said the road was temporarily closed while an electric company restored power.A second and more serious incident occurred at 10 Goodridge St., where a man was hit in the head by a carport that was swirling in the gusty winds. Police said the man was transported to Salem Hospital for medical treatment.