Tree-Lodged Truck Rampage Stuns L.A.

U-Haul moving truck driving on a road — Photo: Matt Gush / Shutterstock

A U-Haul truck in North Hollywood ripped a huge tree limb loose and smashed into a row of parked cars as it rolled toward a busy boulevard, police said.

Story Highlights

Los Angeles police said a U-Haul truck struck a large tree limb that wedged in the vehicle and hit parked cars.
Officers received calls around 10:30 a.m. near Lankershim Boulevard and La Maida Street, according to police.
Police said about a dozen parked vehicles were damaged; video showed the limb jammed in the truck.
Police reported no injuries and no arrest, saying the crash appeared to be an accident.

Police Account: Branch Lodged, Cars Damaged Along La Maida Street

Los Angeles police said the truck traveled east on La Maida Street when it struck a large tree branch that ripped off and became lodged between the truck and its trailer. Officers said the branch then hit parked cars as the truck moved toward Lankershim Boulevard. Police said the branch damaged about 12 vehicles along the street. Police described the crash sequence and the lodged limb in a statement shared with local outlets.

Video shared by local media showed a U-Haul with a giant broken limb jammed in the vehicle while it clipped parked cars and scarred the road surface. The footage matched the police description of the branch stuck in the truck as it rolled past the vehicles. Reporters said the exact number of damaged cars was not clear from video alone, but the police estimate put the total near a dozen along the block.

Timing and Location: Calls Near Lankershim and La Maida Around Mid-Morning

Los Angeles police told reporters that officers were called at about 10:30 a.m. near the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard and La Maida Street. The police account placed the truck heading east on La Maida toward Lankershim when the branch snapped off and lodged in the vehicle. Outlets reported slight differences on the incident day, but the mid-morning timing and the same intersection appeared across reports from the scene.

One vehicle owner identified by name said he dodged the oncoming branch and later found his car totaled. He told a local outlet he watched the branch sweep down the street and slam into vehicles. His account lined up with the video and with the police summary of how the branch stayed wedged as the truck moved. His statements added a clear, first-person view of the property damage on that block.

Initial Disposition: Accident Finding, No Injuries, and No Arrest Reported

Los Angeles police said no one reported injuries at the scene, and officers did not make an arrest. Police told reporters the event appeared to be an accident based on what they saw and heard that day. One outlet said police indicated the driver was not aware of the protruding branch at first, but authorities did not release the driver’s name or a full statement. U-Haul did not issue a public response in time for publication by local outlets.

On November 7, 2026, at 7:35 a.m., #teamHCSO deputies responded to a gas station on North Dale Mabry Highway after a 911 caller reported two unresponsive people inside a U-Haul van. As deputies approached, the van began rolling forward, with two children unsecured in the back.… pic.twitter.com/o8TpR1wsGr

— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 9, 2026

National safety data show that trees are a major roadside hazard in serious crashes, often when vehicles leave the roadway. Federal Highway Administration materials report that over half of fatal crashes are roadway departures, and a large share of those involve fixed objects such as trees. Trees are listed as the most harmful event in a meaningful share of those fatalities. While that context involves different speeds and settings, it underscores how roadside trees can turn minor errors into large losses.

Responsibility and Prevention: Clear Streets, Visible Loads, and Safe Driving

City crews and property owners must keep street trees trimmed so branches do not hang into travel lanes. Drivers of rental and commercial trucks must check mirrors, listen for strange sounds, and stop if a load or a vehicle part snags something. California driver guidance warns against moving with any unsafe load. For city planners, keeping curb lanes clear of large limbs and managing tree growth near tight urban routes can reduce damage when trucks pass close to parked cars.