Father-to-Be Killed by Falling Tree During Thunderstorm in East Orange, NJ
A 30-year-old father-to-be from East Orange, New Jersey, was tragically killed when a neighboring tree fell on him during a thunderstorm on June 26.
East Orange Mayor Ted Green and the Department of Public Safety identified the victim as Juan José Angeles Lopez, according to a news release from East Orange City Hall shared on Facebook on June 27.
Lopez was having a barbecue in his backyard around 8 p.m. when the storm began. As the winds intensified, he attempted to secure an outdoor umbrella. Unfortunately, a tree from a neighboring property collapsed on him.
"Despite efforts to assist him, Lopez was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at 9:05 p.m. at CareWell Health Medical Center in East Orange," the statement read.
Lopez’s brother-in-law, Carlos, described the incident as "unbelievable" and "unexpected." "One minute, we're out there barbecuing, having some drinks,” recalled Carlos. “The next minute, a big old tree just fell down and toppled. You can't expect that." Carlos added, "I went inside for 10 minutes. All I heard was a thump. When I came back outside, it was a mess."
At a June 27 press conference, Mayor Green expressed his condolences to Lopez's family. Lopez’s wife is seven months pregnant, and he is also the father of a 2-year-old daughter.
“This is heart-wrenching, and as a community, we are going to do whatever we can to help Mr. Lopez’s wife and family during this difficult time,” Green said.
The City of East Orange is accepting clothing and baby item donations for Lopez’s family at any East Orange firehouse or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Severe thunderstorms on June 26 prompted storm warnings across parts of New Jersey, including Fort Dix, Toms River, and Lakewood, according to NJ.com. The storms caused multiple reports of fallen trees in Essex and Passaic counties.
Additionally, a woman in Park Ridge, New Jersey, was injured when a tree fell through her home’s upstairs and first-floor ceilings. She was taken to a hospital and later released, according to ABC affiliate WABC.
