As post-tropical storm Lee raged its way across Massachusetts yesterday, tragedy nearly struck when a giant tree fell onto a police cruiser in the town of Cohasset. Miraculously, the officer on duty escaped without injury, according to NBC Boston.
At around 1 p.m., the officer responded to a report of low-hanging wires near the intersection of South Main Street and River Road, as storm Lee brought high winds and heavy rain to thearea. While outside of his 2018 Ford Police Interceptor, the officer heard a deafening snap and saw a massive tree collapsing towards him and his cruiser, as reported by the Boston Globe. Acting quickly, he ran down South Main Street, narrowly escaping catastrophe as the tree crashed onto his vehicle, crushing the roof and part of the passenger cabin as per Boston 25 News.
In the aftermath of the incident, officials have expressed profound gratitude that the officer emerged unharmed. Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley stated, "We dodged a tragedy today, and I'm so thankful that the officer is OK", as mentioned in WHDH.
As storm Lee continued to wreak havoc across the region, one fatality was reported in Maine, where a 51-year-old motorist was killed by a falling tree limb on U.S. 1 during a period of high winds according to Boston 25 News. The tragic loss of life underscores the relentless power of nature and the importance of heeding warnings to stay indoors during extreme weather events.
In reflecting upon the Cohasset officer's narrow escape, Police Chief Quigley emphasized the need for vigilance during such storms, urging people to "stay indoors during these storm events."
