SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Saturday’s storm caused heavy damage at the San Diego Zoo parking lot. High winds knocked down a massive Eucalyptus tree onto six cars and a light pole. One of the owners of the destroyed cars said that this was the third time in the past year that her car took a beating.
“I came out and just saw this massive tree across several cars,” said Hannah Tunnell.
Saturday evening, the 26-year-old was on a first date visiting the museums at Balboa Park. When she walked out to the parking lot, she could not believe her eyes.
“What are the odds of this car getting destroyed three times in less than a year in natural disasters?” she asked.
Last August, while on a business trip to Colorado, baseball-sized hail added several bumps to her 2002 Toyota Camry. A few days later, a second time storm, bringing down softball sized hail. Her car was deemed “totaled.”
“[It was] still drivable so I fixed her up and kept on trucking back home. But I don’t think we are shaking this one this time,” Tunnell laughed.
Her Camry was one of six cars and a light pole that was flattened by a fallen Eucalyptus tree Saturday. Tunnell reflected back on 208,000 miles worth of memories.
“This car has done everything for me. I slept in it, in between college classes as a commuter. I taught my siblings how to drive in this car…” Tunnell said.
Even after a massive tree toppled onto it, the Camry managed to start. She drove herself onto the tow truck, where the car will be taken to its final resting place. Tunnell said she expected nothing less from her little red survivor.
“If she had to go out, it was going to be with a bang,” Tunnell said.
Tunnell is now working with the City of San Diego and her insurance to follow up on the claim.
