11:20a.m. 13th January 2009

| By Roxanne McCarty-O'Kane

A fallen branch forced the council to close Bulcock Street. Photo: Kerryn Manifold.

Bulcock Street in Caloundra was closed to traffic this morning after a truck smashed into a large overhanging tree branch forcing the limb to crash to the ground.

Witnesses described hearing a loud bang as the truck struck one of the branches of the fig trees that line the street about 9.15am.

The branch fell down, cutting the street in two for 15 minutes while council workers cut the fallen limb into smaller pieces and mulched them.

Uschi's Hair Studio owner Uschi Leiber was left shaken after the branch hit the window of her salon.

"We were lucky it was a soft branch, otherwise it would have smashed the window,” she said.

Council foreman for Bulcock Street Frank Coleman said a truck had failed to stop following the collision and police were investigating.

Mr Coleman said the remainder of the tree would remain in place until an arborist could inspect its structure and give advice as to whether it should remain.

“It’s a shame to lose any of these trees," he said.

"They are definitely a feature of this street.”