The crater in the ground marks where the tree used to stand. The section where the tree separates into two branches used to be about 40 feet in the air, according to Laboyteaux.
Mother nature flexed her muscles Friday at the home of Bill Laboyteaux on Westwind Circle near Lake Nacogdoches as an approximately 60 ft. red oak tree shattered in the center of his back yard.
"It sounded like one hell of an explosion," Laboyteaux said. "It was the loudest thing I've heard in my lifetime."
The crater in the ground marks where the tree used to stand. The section where the tree separates into two branches used to be about 40 feet in the air, according to Laboyteaux.
Laboyteaux believes the tree was struck by lightning even though there was no rain or thunder at the time and he did not see a flash of light. No scorch marks were visible on the tree.
He said he and his wife were sitting in their recliners watching television in their living room when pieces of the tree started coming through the ceiling as if someone was throwing javelins: three in their living room and one in their master bedroom ceilings. Part of the trunk, which Laboyteaux said was about 24 inches in diameter, flew over the roof to the side of their house.
Pieces of the oak were scattered into his neighbors' yards on both sides. The rest of the tree settled against the back of their house, shattering most their windows.
No one was injured but Laboyteaux said he is afraid the back of the house will have to be rebuilt.
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