ORANGE — Three women were hospitalized, including one who sustained “significant life-threatening injuries,” after the car they were inside was struck by a tree on Maple Street on Friday afternoon, according to Police Chief James Sullivan.

The women were seated in a car that was parked outside 24 Maple St. at approximately 4 p.m. when a tree, which Sullivan said was “planned to be taken down,” fell on the back of the vehicle, injuring the women inside.

Sullivan said two of the three women were unresponsive, one of whom later regained consciousness, when Orange Police and Fire arrived on Maple Street.

“The tree had been pulled off by other people in the house before” police got there,” Sullivan recounted. “One woman, who has a little girl, has significant life-threatening injuries.

“I don’t think anybody has any true idea what kind of injuries [the other two women] have now — not as serious as the other one, though,” the chief continued.

At approximately 5 p.m., Detective Travis Rushford and Officer Sydney Richardson were on scene by the fallen tree.

At 5:45 p.m., Sullivan said the Massachusetts State Police Investigative Unit was on its way to Orange.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.