A 30-year-old New Jersey man was killed Wednesday night after a large tree in a neighbor’s yard fell on him while he was securing an umbrella in his own backyard as thunderstorms began, authorities said.
Juan José Angeles Lopez was hit by the tree in his yard on the 100 block of North Munn Avenue in East Orange around 8 p.m. when winds picked up, city officials said. Angeles Lopez was having a barbecue in his yard before the weather worsened.
The tree was on a property on the 300 block of William Street. The two properties abut one another.
Angeles Lopez died of his injuries at an area hospital about an hour later. Authorities aren’t sure exactly how the tree tumbled.
Angeles Lopez is survived by his wife who is seven months pregnant and a 2-year-old child, officials said. Donations for his family such as clothing and baby items can be dropped off at any fire department in East Orange 24 hours a day or at the the city’s Department of Health and Human Services, 143 New Street, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A GoFundMe for cash donations can be found here. The organizer of the the GoFundMe said the tree that fell was dead.
“This is heart wrenching, and as a community, we are going to do whatever we can to help Mr. Lopez’ wife and family during this difficult time,” East Orange Mayor Ted Green said.
East Orange wasn’t the only place where trees were toppled during Wednesday night’s intense thunderstorms. The National Weather Service received numerous reports of trees and electrical wires knocked down in Essex, Bergen, Passaic and Union counties, including these:
- A tree fell on a house on Hillside Avenue in Livingston in Essex County at about 8:25 p.m.
- A tree fell on a house on Krysch Lane in Wyckoff in Bergen County about 8:25 p.m.
- A tree fell on a house on Warburton Avenue in Hawthorne in Passaic County about 8:50 p.m.
- A tree fell on a house in Washington Township in Bergen County at about 8:55 p.m.
Police said a woman was seriously injured Wednesday night after a tree crashed through a home in Park Ridge in Bergen County as a strong thunderstorm rolled through North Jersey. The tree went through the Park Avenue home on the east side of town around 8:30 p.m. and the woman was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, police said.
Stories by Jeff Goldman
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NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com