Man killed by tree during storm in Clayton County, officials say

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - A falling tree killed a man during storms across the metro Atlanta area, according to Clayton County police.

Severe weather caused tremendous storm damage and treacherous conditions on the roadways Tuesday morning. Police say a tree fell onto a car in Clayton County killing the driver.

Police say that driver was traveling eastbound on Highway 54 around 9:48 a.m. when a tree fell, crushing the front windshield of a white, four-door sedan. Once Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services arrived, the driver was declared dead.

Neighbors told FOX 5 they heard loud thunder in the early morning and saw heavy rain as the day progressed.

"At that point, [I] went to the lower level [and] stayed there until everything kind of quieted down," Rickey Hayes said. "I guess it was just heavy rain that toppled the tree, or whatever winds were very strong."

Others said they were shocked to hear the news of the driver's passing, never thinking something like that would happen so close to home.

"I don't know if I worry about it. Never thought of it," Hayes said. "I travel that road. That's my only road, so I travel it all the time."

DOWNED TREES, FLOODING REPORTED IN MULTIPLE METRO ATLANTA AREAS

Police have not yet released the name of the driver who was killed.

Several spots also saw flooding as the rain moved through. Part of Northside Drive near Whitehall Street in Atlanta was closed Tuesday as at least three cars got stuck in rising water.

Keya Alexander told FOX 5 she and a few others were stuck for at least 20 minutes in deep water. Tow trucks pulled the cars out soon after.

"City workers, they were able to like kind of push me out to get out of the big puddle, but for the most part it's been hell," she said. "A lot of cars have just been going around. SUVs have been the only ones that have been able to come around and get through."

TRAFFIC | HEAVY RAIN RESULTS IN MULTIPLE CRASHES AROUND METRO ATLANTA 

"I just didn't want to get stuck," Alexander said. "Of course, being in an expensive car, like what kind of damage is this going to do? So, you know, we don't expect these type of things, but it happens."

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