Two people were killed when a large tree fell onto a moving vehicle on the afternoon of a Friday in the Foxcroft neighborhood of northeast Tallahassee at the intersection of Barclay Lane and Godfrey Place.
The deaths marked the most severe outcome from a sudden storm that swept the east and northeast sides of the city, leaving extensive tree damage and widespread power outages. The incident underscored the hazards posed by intense, localized wind events during summer storm systems. Last update: 13 July 2026
What happened at Barclay Lane and Godfrey Place
Emergency services were dispatched to the intersection after reports that a large tree had fallen across the roadway and onto a vehicle. The Tallahassee Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, but both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary traffic investigators determined the tree landed on the front seat area of the car while the vehicle was moving south on Barclay Lane.
Storm characteristics and city impacts
The severe thunderstorm that moved through northeast Tallahassee was part of a broader weather system that produced strong winds capable of causing rapid damage to trees and infrastructure. The National Weather Service described the event as a downburst a concentrated rush of wind from the storm environment to the surface, which can generate sudden gusts and widespread tree failures. The storm caused numerous trees to fall and power lines to come down across the east and northeast sides of the city.
Power outages, public safety and cleanup
Tallahassee City Utilities reported thousands of customers without power across dozens of separate outages concentrated in east and northeast neighborhoods. County staff were deployed to clear roads and assist with cleanup, and officials advised residents to exercise caution around downed power lines and unstable trees. Some residents took immediate action; one neighbor removed four mature trees from his property after the incident.
Community response and eyewitness accounts
Neighbors described shock and disbelief in the wake of the fatalities. Lauren Shoemaker, a longtime Tallahassee resident who walked through the area after the storm, said, “Usually, there’s a little more warning for it” and added, “You see, like a hurricane, or you know where tornadoes are coming, or this was kind of like random.” Shoemaker also recounted, “We just thought a tree had fallen.” Those comments reflected widespread surprise at the storm’s rapid onset and the severity of its impact on familiar neighborhood streets.
The traffic investigation remained active and drivers were urged to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency and public works crews to operate. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims. The incident renewed local calls for tree assessments and increased awareness of the dangers posed by sudden, intense wind events during the storm season.
