'Lucky' Auckland motorist escapes after falling tree crushes car in Howick

An Auckland motorist's car was crushed by a falling tree during the severe weather. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland motorist was lucky to escape with "a bit of a headache" after his car was crushed by a tree in severe weather.

Matthew Brownrigg was driving home on Whitford Rd near Howick about 7.30pm last night through torrential rain.

"There was lots of water streaming down [the road]. I was driving really slow, about 30km/h.

"Then I felt something start to fall onto my car. I thought it was a slip."

He said he sped up to avoid the danger, but "something was pulling me back".

"All of a sudden the roof of my car came in, there was glass all over me, a bit of blood around."

The tree, which Brownrigg estimates was about 1m in diameter, crushed the roof of his car and hit him on the head, but otherwise he was unharmed. Another motorist and emergency services arrived shortly after.

"I do feel pretty lucky, a second slower and it may have been a lot worse. Apart from being in shock and a bit of a headache, I was okay."

He said his vehicle was a write-off.

Matthew Brownrigg was lucky to escape this falling tree with just a headache and some scratches. Photo / Supplied