Chaos struck the streets of Chattanooga when a police officer's routine patrol turned perilous after a tree collapsed onto his cruiser. The incident occurred on the 1600 block of Hixson Pike Thursday morning, confining the officer inside his vehicle. Help was summoned, and multiple crews rushed to the scene to provide much-needed assistance, as reported by WSMV.

Unable to free himself, the officer waited as Chattanooga firefighters and the Chattanooga Public Works Department collaborated to free him from the wreckage. According to a Chattanooga Police Department statement obtained by Local 3 News, the tree was removed from the patrol car, eventually allowing the officer to exit his vehicle.

The officer, whose identity was not disclosed, suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. While trees falling are not uncommon during severe weather, Chattanooga is grappling with the tail end of a weather system that has ravaged parts of Georgia, as noted by Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz, WSBTV reported. The same system is responsible for a spate of violent storms sweeping across north Georgia, bringing with it the threat of damaging winds, hail, and potential tornadoes.