"Neighbors and relatives said that his family had pleaded with the city to remove the tree that wound up killing him — but that officials told them it was healthy enough to stay."
Brooklyn sweethearts Jacob Vogelman, 23 and Jessie Streich-Kest, 24, were killed by a fallen tree while walking thier dog near E. 18th Street and Ditmas Avenue. (Photo: facebook)
In Flushing Queens, Tony Laino was killed when a tree - that neighbors asked the Parks Department to remove last month - crashed through his bedroom. A fund has been created to help his family.
Storm fatality: A young couple were killed in Ditmas Park as they walked their dog through Ditmas Park as Hurricane Sandy touched down. Police say the two were crushed by a tree. (Photo by Paul Martinka via The Brooklyn Paper)
In Flushing Queens, Tony Laino was killed when a tree - that neighbors asked the Parks Department to remove last month - crashed through his bedroom. A fund has been created to help his family.
Storm fatality: A young couple were killed in Ditmas Park as they walked their dog through Ditmas Park as Hurricane Sandy touched down. Police say the two were crushed by a tree. (Photo by Paul Martinka via The Brooklyn Paper)
City -Wide
Huricane Sandy’s destructive path through the New York area was also deadly.
As of late last night, the death toll in the city had risen to 22, and was expected to go up according to the Mayor.
In Brooklyn, high-school teacher Jessie Streich-Kest and her boyfriend, Jacob Vogelman, both 24, were crushed by a falling tree while walking their dog, Max, on Ditmas Avenue at around 7 a.m. yesterday, according to the New York Post.
The dog survived and was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital.
Streich-Kest taught at the Brooklyn School of Social Justice and was a social activist with New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets.
“I can’t believe she is not here anymore,” said friend Matt MacLean. “Her passion for animal welfare, political activism and her new career as a high-school teacher were so amazing.”
A Queens man, too, was killed by a tree.
Tony Laino, 29, of Flushing, was sleeping at about 7 p.m. Monday when the tree crashed through his home and crushed him in his bed.
Tony Laino, 29, (l) of Flushing Queens. (Photo: gofundme/tonylaino)
Tony Laino, 29, (l) of Flushing Queens. (Photo: gofundme/tonylaino)
"They tried to get this tree down for 25 years. They've been calling and calling and calling the city obviously did nothing about it and this is what happened," said Ralph Valente, the father of Laino's fiance.
"Somebody has to die before they take any action. There are so many trees in this neighborhood. If you look here, you look around, the sidewalks they're not even," said Nick Karapasas, Laino's neighbor.
Neighbors and relatives said that his family had pleaded with the city to remove the tree that wound up killing him — but that officials told them it was healthy enough to stay.
“The Parks Department was here last month cutting trees, but they let this one stay,” said neighbor Joanne Evangelista, 66.
Laino’s heartbroken fiancée, Danielle Valente, couldn’t hold back her tears as she stared at the home where her would-be husband died.
“This is awful,” Valente said, sobbing. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be by myself.”
Read More:
New York Post - October 31, 2012 - By Doug Auer, Kathryn Cusma and Pedro Oliveira JR.
Times Ledger - October 30, 2012 - By Joe Anuta
Friends, brother remember Flushing man killed during Hurricane Sandy
Queens Courier - October 31st, 2012 - By Melissa Chan
A Walk In The Park - October 30, 2012
A Walk In The Park - October 28, 2012
The trees are falling because they are rotten inside. They are rotten from absorbing air pollution. Tropospheric ozone is rising and when plants are damaged they then are attacked by fungus, disease and insects. Trees didn't used to fall like this, and it wasn't even that windy. When I was growing up, you never heard of people getting crushed by trees unless it was hit by lightening.
ReplyDeletehttp://witsendnj.blogspot.com/
photos of rotted trees that fell over in the storm.