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Car Takes Out 38 Christmas Trees

White Bridge Tree Lot Estimates $5,000 In Damage

POSTED: 9:08 pm CST December 15, 2009
UPDATED: 11:04 am CST December 16, 2009

It's a seasonal shop, so every dollar counts, but when Jim Sovine closed up Monday night and arrived back Tuesday morning, he noticed that "the tent had been knocked down," he said.

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The damage could be easily traced.

“First, I noticed the tire marks on the curb there, continuing across the sidewalk into the trees,” Sovine said.

Sovine suspects a vehicle slammed into his lot barely missing a rooted tree, but 38 Christmas trees weren't so lucky. The reckless driver didn't stop there.

“They went right through the tent. When they hit the tent, I had heaters and flocking machines in there. It just pancaked all that stuff in there,” he said.

Sovine said there was a “bottle of alcohol laying right next to the utility pole that was struck.”

Sovine called police as soon as he got to his lot Tuesday morning. He said he was told there was not an accident reported overnight, but there's a good chance someone, other than the driver, knows what happened.

“There were tire marks where a wrecker had come and pulled it off,” he said.

Sovine said he's thankful it happened after business hours.

“You know, it could have been a lot worse,” he said.

‘Tis the season of giving, which is why Sovine is so frustrated, because the groups he help -- such as the Kiwanis and the TJ Martel foundation -- through his tree sales will only suffer from one person's carelessness.

“I wish they would have left a note and said they were sorry or Merry Christmas,” he said.

What looks like white paint is now on the power pole in front of the lot on White Bridge

Sovine said there was also a black rear view mirror found near the trees. If you know anything about who might have caused the damage, call the Metro Police Department.

Sovine is renting the tent that was damaged. With the loss of the 38 trees and damaged equipment, Sovine estimates his damages to be about $5,000.

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