Rotted Tree Falls On Workman

By Andrew Gorosko

A rotted tree fell down onto a workman who was mending a broken fence on a Sandy Hook horse farm about 4:40 pm Wednesday, prompting the man to call out for help, resulting in a neighbor summoning emergency service crews to the scene to aid the victim.

Police, ambulance workers, and Sandy Hook and Newtown Hook and Ladder firefighters responded to 42 Black Bridge Road to aid the man, who reportedly had been able to free himself from the fallen tree.

The man, identified as Abbott Sears, who is believed to be in his 50s, was out in a field, about 1,000 feet from Rolling Meadows Lane, repairing a damaged fence when the rotted tree reportedly fell down onto him, pinning him down. A neighbor on the nearby Crows Nest Lane, which overlooks the horse farm, heard his cries for help and dialed 911.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported Mr Sears for medical treatment for what were apparently not serious injuries. A regional paramedic attended Mr Sears.

Henry Velthuizen, the first assistant chief of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, was the incident commander at the scene.

 John Spremullo, the owner of the farm, said he was called to the scene after the incident occurred, having been at work elsewhere in town. Mr Spremullo said Mr Sears has worked at the farm for about a year.