By TIM FORSBERG

At around 4 p.m. Monday, a large oak at the intersection of West Shore Road and Main Avenue crashed into the eastbound lanes of traffic on West Shore Road, trapping cars and passengers.

At least three cars sustained considerable damage, with drivers and passengers remaining trapped in their vehicles as crews tried to remove the limbs as well as several downed power lines.  As of press time, police, fire, rescue crews and National Grid were on-scene trying to extricate those trapped, while some had already been transported to the hospital.

Presumably weakened by the macroburst storm on Aug. 4, the tree collapsed in what would be considered ideal although hot conditions; there was virtually no wind. Heavy machinery was needed to lift and move the large oak as crews used chainsaws and axes to gain access. Traffic on West Shore Road was diverted into side neighborhoods as well as onto Main Avenue.

“My stepmother is in one of those cars, but they won’t let me get near them,” said Warwick resident Misty Lourenco, who was at the scene. “They tell me she’s okay, but I’m still worried. This is incredible.”

Aaron Hennessey had just left work and was at the intersection when he heard a large noise. Thinking someone was rear-ended, he looked at his rear view mirror to see branches starting to come down. He hit the accelerator to move out of the way, but the tree hit the rear of his car and smashed the back windshield.

“I’m just so thankful my two kids weren’t in the back seat, I just can’t believe it,” said Hennesey. “It could have been so much worse, I’m very lucky.”

As of press time, there was no official word on the cause, nor any word on the condition of those trapped or transported to the hospital.

Update: As of Tuesday morning, all drivers and passengers had been released from the hospital, and no serious injuries were reported.