The tree in Pioneer Park was felled by a wind gust, measured at 58kmh, about noon and Mr Swney had left the vehicle only minutes before.
"I was over the road at a meeting at Rabobank and heard the wind gust and then heard this car horn going," Mr Swney said.
"I was thinking, `I wish the person that owns that car would sort that out' and then someone came in and said to look across the road.
The 2007 Nissan Navara farm utility was insured and Mr Swney said he had bought a new car only a couple of weeks ago. "It looks like I'll need it."
He was counting his blessings when he saw that the driver's side of the cab bore the brunt of the tree trunk.
"You can't help but think, what if I was still sitting there?"
He planned to buy a Lotto ticket to celebrate his good fortune.
Alexandra police praised members of the public who diverted traffic away from the gum tree, which blocked Tarbert St.
The tree was sawn up by members of the Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade .
Another 20m tree in the park - a pine tree near the children's playground - was also dislodged by the strong wind and had to be felled later in the afternoon for safety reasons.
