Storm Fury on Bussell Highway: Woman Survives After Tree Limb Crushes SUV
"I saw it falling and just braced myself."
Metricup, WA – A severe storm caused chaos on Bussell Highway near Metricup on Sunday afternoon, leading to a terrifying incident for local driver Lauren Healy. Healy was traveling at 110 km/h when a large tree limb crashed onto the bonnet of her SUV.
Healy described seeing the limb fall in real-time, leaving her just enough time to brace for impact. Despite the severity of the crash, she escaped with no major injuries and was able to crawl out of her vehicle.
"My main concern was my boys."
Healy’s immediate thoughts were for her two sons, aged 18 and 16. As a sole parent following the death of her husband five years ago, she emphasized the deep sense of responsibility she carries. She attributed her survival to "divine intervention," stating she is grateful to return home to her family. She has now vowed never to drive in similar conditions again.
Further Incidents and Widespread Damage
Healy was not the only one caught in the storm's path. A couple in their 70s were also taken to Busselton Health Campus with minor injuries following a similar incident on the same highway.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported extreme conditions, with wind gusts of 135 km/h recorded at Cape Naturaliste—a new record for the month of May. The storms triggered nearly 200 calls for help to the State Emergency Services and left an estimated 6,000 homes without power across the South West region.
Western Power has mobilized contractor crews to assist with the widespread outages. Brett Hoving, Western Power’s head of operational maintenance, confirmed that contractors were being dispatched to restore electricity as quickly as possible.
The identity of the elderly couple involved in the separate crash has not been disclosed.