A crushed DOT vehicle sits on the side of the Avenue of the Pines in Saratoga Spa State Park after a tree fell on it, killing the driver. (John D'Annibale / Times Union)
Posted on 02/17/2006 4:04:27 PM PST by NYer
(Rochester, NY - AP) - Winds gusting up to 77 miles per hour knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and offices today and toppled trees onto a school bus, a car and a truck, killing a suburban Rochester woman and a state worker at a park in Saratoga Springs.
A fierce storm swept across the Midwest and into the Northeast before dawn, sending temperatures in some parts of western New York plunging from 60 degrees to below freezing within a few hours. Downed or damaged power lines cut off electricity to at least 215,000 customers.
A falling tree crushed a passing car near Irondequoit Bay in suburban Rochester, killing a 52-year-old woman. In Gorham, a rural town 25 miles southeast of Rochester, a dozen youngsters narrowly escaped injury when a tree fell on their school bus.
At Saratoga Spa State Park, 40 miles north of Albany, a state Department of Transportation worker was killed when a tree crashed down on his pickup.
Governor Pataki activated an emergency command center to coordinate state agencies that help to reroute traffic, clear debris and restore power.
A crushed DOT vehicle sits on the side of the Avenue of the Pines in Saratoga Spa State Park after a tree fell on it, killing the driver. (John D'Annibale / Times Union)
And, it's all Bush's fault.
I want a full investigation. We must cut down all of those dangerous trees.
This is my town. We had trees fall across the road in several places, winds of over 50 mph, the whole shebang. Every school but two in the county was open- kids out in the wind, etc.
I love riding down the Avenue of the Pines when I play golf at Spa park.It is beautiful despite the tragedy of today.
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