Gusty winds cause widespread damage across DC region

GREAT FALLS, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - Gusty winds toppled over numerous trees across the D.C. region Monday, taking down power lines, blocking roads and keeping police very busy re-directing traffic. At one point, a wind gust of 60 miles per hour was recorded in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Bruno Santana was home when a tree took down power lines and sent a transformer crashing into his neighbor's car on Garland Avenue mid-morning in Takoma Park, Md.

"I heard a loud noise -- when I looked outside, the transformer was on fire and as I am watching the transformer it actually falls down on my neighbor's car," said Santana.

The sheer force crushed the back of a car, which was parked on the street. It looks totaled.

The tree fell across Garland Ave., blocking the road in the 8500 block and knocking out power to dozens of customers. No one was hurt.

Across the area, wind gusts toppled trees in Maryland, the District and Virginia.

On Route 193 -- the Georgetown Pike near McLean -- the wind took down a monster of a tree. Pictures show it actually fell uphill.

The massive tree blocked the road just west of Swinks Mill Rd. and knocked out power to the homes in the area.

In Springfield, a gust of wind also sent a tree crashing into a home that was occupied by a young family at the time. No one was injured, but the damage is extensive.

The wind also took down trees which blocked major commuter routes -- like one on Old Dominion Dr. near the Arlington/Fairfax County line.

Finding ways around was also just a bit tricky.

FOX 5's Mike Thomas says Thurmont, Md. had a wind gust of 61 miles per hour, while down in Wintergreen, a gust of 81 miles per hour was recorded.