Columbia Rd. @ Conn. Ave blocked

5:40 p.m. Update: The falling tree did damage to at least one car--that of Mayor Adrian Fenty spokesman Sean Madigan, according to the Washington Business Journal's Michael Neibauer. Combined with the harm inflicted by a high-rise office building's plummeting ventilation duct in Dupont this morning, it's shaping up to be a bad day for uncovered autos.

Original post:The District Department of Transportation says that a large tree on private property along Columbia Road NW has toppled, completely blocking passage on the road near its intersection with Connecticut Avenue.

The department's Urban Forestry Administration is on hand attempting to remove the obstruction, but commuters should avoid the route for now.

--Luke Rosiak