This willow tree has had this damage/disease for multiple years. If you knock on the trunk it sounds hollow and the tree has never really filled out like it should. The middle portion of the tree blew over during the last big storm that we had this summer. The inside of the tree is spongy and there are some fungus types spots on the tree as well. We would love to plant another willow tree in this area however if this is some type of disease we don’t want to take the chance of having a new tree contract the same thing. I also submitted an email with pictures of a maple tree that we have that’s on the same side of the driveway as this willow tree but closer to the road. The trees are not near each other.