FAIR HAVEN, NJ – A youth softball game in Fair Haven, New Jersey, took a terrifying turn when a large tree branch came crashing down on a dugout, narrowly avoiding a major disaster. The incident was captured on video by Garrett Van Alstyne, the coach of the Middletown team, who witnessed the entire event unfold.
The unsettling footage, recorded at Community Center Fields, shows the branch breaking before plummeting onto the dugout where 10 and 11-year-old players were gathered.
Van Alstyne described the scene as eerie, saying that although the sound of the branch breaking could be heard, no one was paying attention until it was too late. Once the tree came down, it was immediate chaos as parents, coaches, and umpires rushed to make sure all the kids were safe.
Luckily, there were no serious injuries. One child was reported to have minor abrasions on their head but refused further medical attention after being checked by first responders. Spectators, including two young boys, Liam James and P.J., recalled the harrowing moment, noting how the branch scraped one of their friends but miraculously left everyone unharmed.
The incident was captured on the team’s camera placed behind home plate and occurred two weeks ago.
