Fallen tree still partially blocks Maryland street a week after major storms

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. (7News) — It’s been almost a week since massive storms tore through the DMV. It took trees down from Fairfax, Virginia, to Dupont Circle in D.C.

While the cleanup continues in those areas, people along Hastings Drive in Capitol Heights, Maryland, say their street looks like the storm just happened yesterday.

“This has just been a thorn in everybody’s side,” said State Senator Joanne Benson. She lives about a mile and a half from the massive tree branch that’s blocking the roadway.

“I got a call from the community, and I’ve gotten a call every day,” said Benson.

Those calls are coming from worried neighbors who say the branch is a traffic issue. Cars snaking around the branch could potentially collide head-on if drivers aren’t paying attention.

“These people care deeply for their community, and this is unfair,” said Benson about her neighbors in the Peppermill Community.

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7News reached out to a Prince George’s County spokesperson Wednesday, who said they wanted to get this problem tackled days ago. The spokesperson said they called Pepco and the power company told them not to touch the branch and instead wait for their crews to get there since it’s sitting on power lines.

When 7News checked in with Pepco, the company told us that, upon further inspection, those lines actually weren’t theirs. They’ve put the responsibility for cleanup back in the county’s hands.

“We don’t care who is pointing the finger, we want them to come here and fix this problem,” said Benson.

Benson believes this is about community pride, saying she and her neighbors pay their taxes and bills like everyone else, and deserve the same attention as other communities.

“These are some of the finest people, and we want our community to reflect how we really feel about it, and this tree being down is not how we feel about our community,” said Benson.

7News reached back out to Prince George’s County Wednesday night to share the update we received from Pepco. A spokesperson said they are getting the ball rolling on cleaning up this branch.