A pair of brothers, Mason and Daniel Soto, had a harrowing encounter when a tree crashed onto their Jeep Cherokee while driving on Interstate 5 north near Bellingham. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of safety.

"A Tree's Fury on the Freeway - Brothers' Narrow Escape"

Impact and Fear

Mason Soto, 21, vividly recalls the moment. "I was driving at the 60 miles per hour speed limit when the tree made impact. It all happened so fast. There was 'no time to react.' In that split second, logs were all over my hands, and I was bleeding. It was a terrifying experience."The tree's branches pierced the windshield, hitting his knuckles, chest, and nose, and even ricocheted off onto his brother Daniel Soto, 24. "What I thought was, 'What're the chances that maybe it impaled me somewhere?' It was a moment of pure shock and fear."

Minor Injuries and Miracles

Despite the severity of the impact, the brothers were able to pull over safely. Miraculously, they only sustained minor cuts and bruises. "We were amazed that we walked away with only minor injuries considering the force of the tree," said Mark Soto, their father.This incident has made the Soto family realize the true value of their loved ones. "It puts it into perspective that tomorrow's not guaranteed. We're just grateful to be here together," added Mark.

Safety Concerns and Call to Action

The tree fell onto the freeway around 11 a.m. as wind gusts were peaking, reaching around 55 miles per hour in the area near Lake Samish. A first responder informed Mark Soto that dead trees and underbrush along the route were supposed to be cleared but had not been."This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. It's not the first time on that route that they've had serious accidents due to trees, rocks, and mudslides. We need more safety measures in place," said Mark.He is now calling for increased vigilance and action to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Family's Struggle and Fundraiser

Unfortunately, the family's Jeep Cherokee was totaled in the incident. Mark Soto worked hard to provide his sons with vehicles, and now he is facing the reality of having to replace it. "I worked myself really hard to make sure they had those vehicles, and when it gets pulled away, it's like, 'Okay… what else do I do?'"Daniel Soto has set up an online fundraiser to help his father. He wrote, "He is a selfless man who does so much for our family. We need your help to get him through this difficult time."This Christmas and every Christmas going forward, the Soto family is grateful for their loved ones and the lessons learned from this terrifying incident.