Evanston Woman Helps Tree Crash Victim During Storm

Kitanya Robertson didn't realize anyone was trapped inside the crushed blue SUV until she heard desperate cries for help.

A massive tree had slammed through the windshield during Friday afternoon's storms in Evanston, stopping just centimeters from a passenger's face. Robertson pulled over immediately when she saw the wreckage.

"The tree was literally pointed at her like that," Robertson said, describing how the enormous branch faced the trapped woman. The passenger, bleeding from a leg wound caused by a branch, told Robertson she couldn't move.

Robertson stayed with her, offering comfort and urging her to remain still until paramedics arrived. Inside the car were three people: a daughter driving, her mother in the passenger seat, and one other person. All three lived just down the block and were heading home when the tree fell.

The fire department arrived quickly and began cutting away branches to free the passengers. Two of the three people were taken to the hospital. A family member later confirmed the injured woman remains hospitalized but is recovering.

Sunny's Take

In those terrifying moments, Robertson became exactly what the trapped woman needed: a calm voice promising she wasn't alone. "I was terrified and I wasn't in the car, so I could just imagine the shock they were in," Robertson said.

She's still thinking about the woman she helped, recognizing that physical recovery is only part of the journey. "I really felt for her," Robertson said. "It was like a rollercoaster of emotions."

Robertson and neighbors noticed the tree appeared to be rotting from the center before it fell. She hopes the city will inspect other trees in the area to prevent future accidents. CBS News Chicago has reached out to Evanston officials but hasn't received a response yet.

Sometimes being a good neighbor means simply showing up when someone needs you most.