Large tree snaps in half, falls on Gwinnett apartment building

Gwinnett County firefighters responded just after 5 a.m. Friday to a report of a tree down on a building at the Columns at Peachtree Corners apartments.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Gwinnett County firefighters responded just after 5 a.m. Friday to a report of a tree down on a building at the Columns at Peachtree Corners apartments.

A tree fell on a Gwinnett County apartment building Friday morning as North Georgia woke up to heavy rain and severe thunderstorms.

LIVE UPDATES: Storm damage reported across metro Atlanta

Authorities responded just after 5 a.m. to a report of a tree down on a building at the Columns at Peachtree Corners apartments in the 900 block of Concepts 21 Drive near Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett fire spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in a news release.

Crews found a large pine tree that snapped in half and fell on part of the building and in the parking lot. Limbs from the tree penetrated the roof and wall of one apartment unit, he said.

“Occupants were inside the apartment at the time the tree fell,” Rutledge said. “The tree penetrated the roof over the bedroom and part of the wall in the apartment unit directly below.”

One person, an adult, was evaluated and released at the scene by paramedics for a minor injury complaint, according to officials. There were no other injuries reported.

Gwinnett firefighters have responded to numerous storm-related emergencies, Rutledge said.

Heavy rain washed away part of a major Gwinnett County roadway early Friday morning, and authorities plan to keep it closed through the weekend.

A sinkhole developed on Scenic Highway, forcing the closure of a northbound right turn lane onto Henry Clower Boulevard, the Georgia Department of Transportation said.

RELATED: Sinkhole forces partial closure of major Gwinnett road through the weekend

Firefighters also battled a small house fire in the 160 block of Lake Run near Lawrenceville, Rutledge said. He said lightning was believed to have “affected electrical components.”

And there were wires down at Pleasant Hill Road and Summit Ridge Parkway near Duluth, fire officials said.

MORE: Flooding, downed trees and wires reported in Gwinnett

The worst of the storms moved out of metro Atlanta, but Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said there is still a chance for scattered showers and an isolated storm later.