‘I dove’: Montgomery County man narrowly escapes toppling tree as it crashes into home

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — As quickly as storms blew through Montgomery County, Maryland, Ridgely Chichester had to move even faster.

Shortly after the rumble of thunder, he heard an even more concerning sound.

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“The storm was moving in the area. It was torrential rain, and the wind was whipping around. I was shutting windows, and I heard a cracking sound. I looked up, and this tree was literally falling right towards me. I was in that breezeway, and I dove underneath a chair to get out of the way. Everything tumbled around,” Chichester said.

In an instant, the massive tree in his yard collapsed onto his home.

A tree that fell on a house in Montgomery County, Md. on July 28, 2026. (7News)

Chichester escaped the breezeway with cuts and scrapes.

“I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get out that other door. It’s no big deal,” Chichester said, as he showed off his bloodied knees.

Walking around the home, you can find insulation spilling out of the walls, shattered windows, and a massive hole where the roof has since been crunched.

“The mammoth thing just ruined the house. The kitchen and the breezeway are definitely messed up. Luckily, it missed the garage. My car and truck are still fine,” Chichester said.

Despite this damage, Chichester said he feels lucky.

Nobody was seriously hurt.

“My wife and dog were fine,” Chichester said. “I was very lucky, I know that. I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t have time to think. I just saw it coming. I just literally dove, and that was it.”