A monstrous tree somehow toppled to the ground in Rockland County Thursday morning, swallowing an entire street and crushing an 80-year-old man in a car, authorities say.
The 80-year-old man was pronounced dead shortly after the gigantic tree fell on his vehicle on North Broadway around 7:45 a.m. The accident was directly in front of Upper Nyack Elementary School, about 30 minutes before students were slated to start arriving for daily classes.
Chopper 4 showed the vehicle completely demolished, its windshield shattered, in the middle of the debris, which blankets the entire street. The pavement is barely visible as emergency crews move cautiously around the scene.
No students were injured, and Lohud reported the school was shut down for the day as authorities investigated. Police say they believe the 80-year-old man was the only person in the crushed vehicle, but they need to clear more debris before they can be 100 percent sure.
It's not clear what caused the tree to come down. The investigation is ongoing.
