Driver saves family's lives near Grizzly Falls in Fresno Co.

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A family's travel took an unexpected gait toward Kings Canyon National Park aft a monolithic histrion astir crushed them, the California Highway Patrol announced.

CHP says connected July 11 astir 5:30 p.m. a father, his girl and her fiance were traveling on Highway 180 adjacent Grizzly Falls, headed toward Kings Canyon National Park.

Officers study it was past that the operator saw a monolithic histrion statesman to autumn straight successful beforehand of them. The begetter had to rapidly determine whether to slam connected the brakes oregon level it.

Investigators accidental arsenic the monolithic histrion began to autumn connected apical of the SUV, its branches crushed the beforehand windshield. However, owed to the momentum astatine which the operator was going, the conveyance was capable to determination nether it, crushing the backmost end.

Detectives accidental had the operator attempted to stop, the tree's branches would person crushed them. Thanks to the father's speedy reasoning to deed the gas, their lives were saved. No injuries were reported.

"A precocious 5 to the operator for his speedy reflexes!," says CHP.

According to officials, the Tennessee household was utilizing a rental car to hike astatine assorted nationalist parks.

CHP says this serves arsenic a reminder of wherefore drivers should ever beryllium alert of their surroundings, particularly successful nature.

The U.S. Forestry Fire Department and Caltrans responded to cleanable up the tree.