Bronx takes a hit from Isaias
Storm leaves property damage, fallen trees and 23,000 without power
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Downed trees, property
damages, power outages,
all around intense winds
and rain ravaged the Bronx
as Tropical Storm Isaias
made its way north on
Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Con Edison reported that
approximately 23,000 Bronx
customers were without
power due to the surging
winds and rain in the area.
Many around the borough
shared what damages their
neighborhoods had experienced
throughout the day.
One unlucky home in
Pelham Gardens had a large
scale tree collapse onto its
roof because of the storm.
“Power outage at Pelham
Gardens, apparently caused
by this fella #Isaias,” wrote
one Twitter user with an accompanying
video of a fallen
tree in front of a house.
University Avenue between
168th and 169th Street
saw also some massive trees
fall earlier in the day according
to a Tweet from
Landon Dais.
“We have large trees
down on University Avenue
Bronx family killed
in upstate crash
State police report that three
members of a Pelham Bay
family were the victims
BY ALEX MITCHELL
A Pelham Bay family
was tragically killed in a
fatal tractor trailer accident
in upstate New York on
Sunday night.
According to a report from
Times Union, the driver of a
large truck hit the family’s
2012 Honda Accord and one
other car on I-87 in Ulster,
New York, taking the lives of
10-year-old Justin Gayapersad,
14-year-old Chelsea Gayapersad
and 47-year-old Zulika
Salim at about 8:30 p.m.
Responding to the tragic
collision, one family member
took to Facebook saying
“I have lost a wonderful
aunt and my loving cousins
I never thought it will be so
early to say goodbye.”
The collision sent
the family’s car about
500 feet forward on the
southbound road.
The Daily News reported
that the crash occurred near
exit 19 in Ulster.
The tractor-trailer driver,
reported as 61-year-old Luc
Leblanc of Quebec, Canada
made an attempt to avoid
the crash tried to avoid a collision
when he came upon
stopped traffi c but was unable
to stop in time.
Five others were reported
injured as result of
the crash, according to
muliple reports.
The Bronx Times reached
out to New York State police
and is awaiting a response.
in the Bronx due to Isaias,”
said Dais on Twitter.
The road is blocked and 911
is not picking up. We need
This is a developing story. I-87 in Kingstron. Photo via Google Maps
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, AUGUST 7-13, 2020 BTR
city services to make the
road safe.”
Other portions of the
east Bronx were also rocked
by the intense wind gusts
that pushed through in
the afternoon. One man
in Parkchester documented
the ongoing damages
around Virginia and
Gleason Avenues.
In his YouTube video,
the man showed scenes
of high winds and hard
rain, branches strewn
across streets and even
a fallen tree.
Some were luckier than
others, including Twitter
user Rachel Mesch, who said
that hers was “one of the
only houses with power on
her block in Riverdale.
“Isaias in the Bronx,
around the corner from my
house. We are lucky in every
way, including being one
of only houses with power,”
Mesch said on Twitter.
The howling conditions
even caused the MTA to ban
truck from using the Throggs
Neck Bridge for a portion of
the day and shut down Metro
North rail service.
Screenshot via Youtube/Poly Poemático