ATLANTA — A falling tree sent a hospital visitor to the emergency room Saturday.
The victim, Cassanova Lee, says he was walking on the Piedmont Atlanta Hospital campus when he heard a distant cracking sound.
"It was seconds," he said. "It happened so fast."
A fast-moving storm toppled several trees across metro Atlanta Saturday.
Lee says he had no time to avoid being hit.
"I looked up and saw it was coming toward me," said Lee. "When I turned to run, it just, wham, slammed me in my face."
Lee says he's an ordained minister and believes he was blessed.
He was at the hospital visiting a cousin. Lee walked outside several hours after a pop-up storm to cross Peachtree Road at Brighton Road, but never made it off of hospital property.
"I just made it in the middle of the driveway and it slammed me," he said. "It bounced my head. I kind of went unconscious, but not for long. I don't know if adrenaline pulled me out from under there or if someone pulled me out."
Lee says he's in pain and sore all over, and has scrapes, a swollen eye, a nick on his head and a swollen elbow to show for the close call.
"Half a foot over and that big branch would have crushed me," said Lee. "Three feet short of where I landed it would have crushed me."
A Piedmont Healthcare spokesperson confirmed the incident and says Lee will not be billed for his emergency room visit.
WSBTV
