A U-Haul truck in North Hollywood dragged a giant tree limb down a residential block, smashing a row of parked cars as stunned neighbors jumped out of the way.
Story Highlights
- Los Angeles Police Department said a U-Haul struck a large tree limb that lodged in the truck and trailer.
- Police reported the limb then hit and damaged about a dozen parked vehicles along La Maida Street.
- Video showed the limb wedged in the truck as it scraped cars and tore up the roadway.
- Officers received calls around 10:30 a.m. near Lankershim Boulevard; no arrests were made, and no injuries were reported.
Police Say Branch Lodged In Truck, Then Smashed Parked Cars
Los Angeles Police Department officials said a U-Haul traveling east on La Maida Street hit a large tree branch, which ripped off, lodged in the truck and trailer, and then struck cars along the block. Officers said the crash sequence damaged about a dozen vehicles as the truck moved toward Lankershim Boulevard. Police said the driver was reportedly unaware of the branch at first. Video from the scene showed the limb jammed in the truck as it scraped cars and the pavement.
Police said calls came in at about 10:30 a.m. near La Maida Street and Lankershim Boulevard. Reporters noted a date discrepancy across outlets, but the location and timeline were consistent. Officers said no injuries were reported. Police made no arrest at the scene, saying the event appeared to be an accident. A man named Clark Sean Heisler told reporters his parked car was totaled and that he had to dodge the approaching limb as it swept down the street.
Witness Accounts And Open Record Gaps
Witness videos captured the branch wedged in the U-Haul as it raked bumpers, doors, and mirrors on both sides of the street. One victim, identified as Clark, described diving away to avoid getting hit and finding his car destroyed. Reports did not list the driver’s name. Police and local outlets did not publish a police report number or a full collision diagram. Officials did not release a complete inventory of the damaged cars or the total cost of losses.
Police told reporters the driver was allegedly unaware of the stuck branch as the truck moved down the block. That point remains an attributed police description, not a recorded driver statement. Reporters said U-Haul had not responded to questions at the time of coverage. Those missing pieces are common in early traffic reports. They do not change the core facts police shared: a lodged limb, a set route along La Maida Street, and multiple parked cars damaged with no injuries reported.
Safety Context: Trees, Loads, And City Maintenance
Federal Highway Administration research shows trees are a frequent and deadly roadside hazard in serious roadway-departure crashes. About 56 percent of fatal crashes involve roadway departures, and many of those include fixed objects like trees. While this North Hollywood case appears to be a lower-speed urban event, the pattern is clear: when vehicles meet fixed objects, damage spreads fast. Good sight lines, trimmed trees, and vigilant load checks help stop a small strike from becoming a block-long mess.
On November 7, 2026, at 7:35 a.m., #teamHCSO deputies responded to a gas station on North Dale Mabry Highway after a 911 caller reported two unresponsive people inside a U-Haul van. As deputies approached, the van began rolling forward, with two children unsecured in the back.… pic.twitter.com/o8TpR1wsGr
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 9, 2026
California guidance tells drivers not to operate with unsafe or unsecured loads that create hazards. City crews also carry a duty to manage trees near roadways to protect the public. A tough but fair approach blends both: drivers watch their mirrors and stop if something feels off, and cities keep branches trimmed back from narrow corridors. That is not about politics. It is about basic order, safe streets, and property rights the law should defend every day.
Sources:
washingtontimes.com, ktla.com, cbsnews.com, abc7.com, aol.co.uk, abc7news.com
