A firefighter from a small town in southern New York died early Monday when a massive tree fell on his pickup truck.
The Times Herald Record reports that Justin Scharschu, a captain with the Tillson Volunteer Fire Department, was driving along Route 32 in Ulster County around 6 a.m. Monday when he either struck the tree or the tree struck his vehicle as it fell, according to the preliminary investigation.
A press release by the Ulster County Sheriff's Office said Scharschu, 28, died at the scene.
Scharschu's uncle John Kouhout visited the accident scene and told the Record it was "absolutely" a freak accident because the tree was badly rotted.
Tillson Fire Chief William Miller said Scharschu, who was with the department for at least nine years, was heading to work when the accident happened.
"It's awful. You won't find a better young man anywhere," Kouhout told the Record.
