On Monday, a portion of a maple tree collapsed onto a 2001 Buick Park Avenue at 2505 Quaint Road, Falconer, owned by George Gustafson. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

FALCONER — Swirling winds were blamed for a portion of a maple tree collapsing and possibly totalling a property owner’s car.

On Monday around noon, George Gustafson was inside his Quaint Road home near Falconer when he felt it shake. He knew winds were swirling, which led to a large portion of a maple tree falling onto his 2001 Buick Park Avenue. The tree landed mostly on the hood, front windshield and roof of the car, damaging it to the point that Gustafson doesn’t know if the insurance adjuster will call it a total loss or have it repaired.

“It might be totaled,” Gustafson said. “That’s a shame because its been a great car.”

Limbs from the tree also ended up on the roof of Gustafson’s house, though he’s not sure if the property sustained any damage. He said about 10 years ago a tree collapsed near his home, in which a limb punctured a portion of his roof that caused a troublesome leak. He is also in the process of building a handicap-accessible ramp onto his property and he doesn’t know if that was damaged.

Gustafson said he had called a local tree service company to have them look at a dead limb on the maple and to also look at an apple tree in his yard before Monday. However, the tree service company never returned his call. The falling maple tree also broke off a branch from a nearby black locust tree. He estimates the maple tree is about 300 years old.

There were several severe weather warnings Monday for high winds and thunderstorms in the greater Jamestown area.