It’s a fear when you find yourself on a road that borders a wood: you fear the game that could cross or the tree that could collapse, without warning. Even more so when there is a storm.
Thursday, however, the day started well, without rain or wind, even under the sun, when Antoine Bottaro, 20 years old, went down rue Émile Lessire (N928) at the wheel of the family business van. He is used to taking this road, to go play football in Malonne and because he lived in the area for a while. He knows that he must brake before the turn in front of the mill, to avoid slipping. It was 9:10 a.m. when, just after the bend, an ash tree fell on his van, an episode which risks changing Antoine’s route for a moment.
“This is the first accident of my life. I was lucky. I was getting there at 40-50 km/h when he fell onto the roof at the front of the van. Fortunately, the gallery, which supported 15-20 cm of slats and a triple ladder, was able to cushion the shock. But the roof still sank by 10-15 cm. As for my driver’s side window, it was broken by a branch.» Everything happened quickly and violently. “When I came to my senses, there was, right next to me, a piece of trunk measuring 80 cm and 7-8 cm wide. I don’t know where he went.»
Antoine was hot but came out well: scratches on his face, a small lesion on his eye, a cut eyelid and a bruise. A lady gave Antoine first aid; his condition did not require transport to a hospital. During this time, firefighters and municipal workers cleared the roads.
The van is in bad condition. “The entire ceiling has lowered, the bodywork is soft on the sides, we can no longer open the side door. The amount is broken. Under the shock, one of the rear rims was torn off.»
Not an isolated case
“I had never heard of falls at this place but, now that it has happened to me, other testimonies are coming. A lady who lives nearby said that there were 7-8 trees falling per year,” concludes Antoine.
As proof, on Wednesday May 22, at 11:30 a.m., a Wépionnaise, Annie Licot, experienced a similar mishap, without damage. Almost in the same place, always in the Buzet-Floreffe direction. “I was going to pick up my granddaughter from school and, just around the corner, I had to stop in my tracks. There was a large tree, 40 cm in diameter, right in front of my car. He had just fallen. If I had been below… I was shocked. When I hear what happened on Thursday, I won’t dare go that way again.»
The fear that his wolfdogs will be injured or escape
That day, Annie had received the support of a local resident, Fanny Loozen, who is also worried about these repeated incidents. His property is separated from the woods by the road. But the deciduous trees are so large that when they fall, they regularly reach her roof, the electrical cables and, more problematically, the fences of Fanny’s Czechoslovakian wolfdog farm. On May 23, there were six trees that had fallen since the start of the year. Others have since followed. “Here I have 9 dogs, including puppies. I’m afraid they will be traumatized and one day they will run away.» With the danger that they find themselves on the road or facing people who are afraid of them.
So, Fanny and her companion constantly repair the imposing enclosures. It costs, without protecting them from further damage. “It happens at any time, during the day or at night. So you have to hear the puppies howling. We report the situation, but we have the impression that the Municipality and Region are passing the buck. Or, they don’t answer us. In the meantime, there are lives at stake: owners, drivers, walkers…»
“All flat for 10-15 meters”
Who owns the problem wood? Not so easy to answer the question. “The Thursday tree comes from the municipal woodsconfirms Mayor Florefois. This would be the first time, the previous falls would concern the wooden part of the Region.»
To see clearly, Philippe Vautard had to do some research. “On Thursday, following the accident, our services requested the opinion of the Nature and Forests Department. Even though they look vigorous, these ash trees are affected by a fungus. Then, wetlands are fragile. We will see which trees must be felled and go through an emergency public market. Everything will undoubtedly be put back flat, harmoniously, over 10-15m.»
For her part, Sarah Pierre, spokesperson for the public service of Wallonia, explains, for her part: “Our last intervention in this area was two months ago. Everything that needed to be done was accomplished.»
