NYSDOT dispatches crews to trim trees along Palisades following deadly Father's Day accident

Anthony Apostolico, 48, a beloved Rockland deli owner from Orange County, died on Father's Day when a tree fell onto the pickup truck he was in as it drove northbound between exits 15 and 16.

Diane Caruso

Jun 29, 2022, 9:33 PM

Updated 887 days ago

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Maintenance crews are cutting down trees along the Palisades Interstate Parkway following a deadly Father's Day accident.
Heather Pillsworth, with the Department of Transportation, gave News 12 a statement saying, "New York State Department of Transportation maintenance crews routinely patrol state highways for hazardous trees and, where necessary, identify them for removal. Safety is always NYSDOT's top priority and following last week's tragic incident along the Palisades Interstate Parkway, tree crews have been dispatched to the PIP corridor to further inspect trees in an abundance of caution."
New York State police tell News 12 their investigation so far has found that the tree that killed Apostolico was about 30 feet inside the wood line on the eastern side of the northbound lanes.
They describe it as being tall enough to cross both lanes of travel, all the way onto the opposite shoulder - adding that when it fell, the truck carried the tree about 200 feet before it stopped.