Chaos ensued early this morning in Piedmont when a mammoth tree tumbled down, wreaking havoc at the intersection of La Salle and Hampton. Consequently, a broken EBMUD water line has compounded the disruption; residents are advised to give this area a wide berth until the mess is tidied up.

The unexpected arboreal downfall, reported at 6 am, prompted the Piedmont Police Department to barricade the stretch between La Salle/Hampton and La Salle/Crest, calling residents to seek alternative routes, their announcement on Facebook urged community members to avoid the area "until further notice."

Crews are currently on the scene, their hands full with the task of removing the tree while simultaneously striving to repair the damaged water line. The extent of the damage to the latter is still being assessed, but the urgency of the repairs signifies the potential severity of the situation, said the Piedmont Police Department.

No injuries were reported, which may be a small mercy in this sudden bout of urban disarray. The Piedmont Police Department hasn't estimated when the roadway will be passable again. They stated updates will follow and those will be disseminated via their official communication channels, particularly Facebook, where they vow to keep the public promptly informed.

Motorists are advised to plan for possible delays in their commute and to continually check the Piedmont Police Department's Facebook page for the latest information on when normalcy will be restored to this corner of their community.