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Storm snaps aging oak in half, tree crashes on top of van with passengers inside

Two people now recovering at the hospital
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Tampa Fire Rescue rushed two people to the hospital after an oak tree came crashing down on top of a van. 

It happened around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday as a storm swept through Tampa. 

"We all suddenly heard a very loud crack," said Juan Romero, pastor at Bread of Life, Church of God. 

A massive oak tree, believed to be as old as the 110-year-old church building, snapped in half. Pictures show some of its branches pierced through the mini-van's roof and pinned one victim down to her seat. 

"But it fell in such a way that it didn't cause catastrophic injury, though seriously hurt," said Romero. 

Two church members were taken to a local hospital with back and shoulder pains. Another person was treated at the church, located at 2747 N. Florida Ave. 

The church's pastor tells ABC Action News, it was an act of God that brought the tree down. 

"And now looking at where it broke, we see that it was kind of dying in the inside, we just couldn't tell from the outside."

Romero is thankful that four other church members, including two elderly members, got out of the van before the tree snapped. 

"We just ask for community support and prayers and we'll get back from this," said Romero. 

Church members do not believe the damage will impact services on Sunday.