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Workers seek shelter in van, then tree falls on van

Posted at 7:38 PM, Jun 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-27 19:38:19-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va (WTVR)--A concerned neighbor, seeing Guy Stinchfield and his crew on ladders power washing a house, walked up and told them about the thunderstorm and tornado warning.

"I said 'shut it down' and we need to take cover and so we all got in the van," said Stinchfield.

Sensing the big tree's in the yard would be no match for his work van, Stinchfield backed out of the driveway of the home were they were working, and parked across the street, he thought to safety.

The wind picked up and the rain poured. "All of a sudden we heard crack boom and it was over," he said.

The three were now trapped inside a van with part of a tree on top, the roof crushed, the windshield shattered.

But amazingly, no one is hurt, while the van and five ladders are a total loss.

"Life is priceless, so you know what I mean, we're all here, a little shook up about it and next time a storm comes through, I'll definitely take cover even faster."