The Pottsville Christmas tree was taken out by a distracted driver Tuesday night.

Red and white sawhorses stand near where the 30-foot Dutch fir once proudly was.

Tom Whitaker, city superintendent of streets, said he received a call from the Schuylkill County Communications Center that a car hit the tree at Fifth and West Market Street. He went over and noticed the tree and the car. No occupants were inside the vehicle, which was towed.

Pottsville Police were dispatched to the area at 9:31 p.m.

Patrolman Chris Hamilton found that Clayton Eberly, 24, of Allentown, had been driving his Volkswagen Rabbit while using his phone and crashed into the Christmas tree.

Eberly will be charged with careless driving.

Fire and EMS also responded to the scene. Whitaker said he was surprised at what he saw.

“The damage was severe. The tree was destroyed. The star, the lights and the tree stand were all heavily damaged,” he said.

A new tree will go up next Wednesday or Thursday. The LED lights will be examined to see if they can still work. He said the star likely is not salvageable.

Hexcel Corp. donated the tree, which cost $600, and the lights that were about $2,500. The tree was purchased at Plow Farms, Berks County, after city council members chose the tree from pictures they were given. The tree was lit Nov. 27 after being installed Nov. 24.

Donations are being accepted for the tree and decorations.

Mayor James T. Muldowney said the tree and decorations will be replaced. If needed, money will come from the mayor’s budget.

He said the tree - which had an all too short stint this season - will not be forgotten.

“This was a sharp looking tree,” he said.

Whitaker said in his time with the streets department this news is a first.

“As far as I know in 20 years, it’s never been struck by a vehicle, but it was set on fire once,” he said of the city’s Christmas tree.