Brooklyn – A tragic accident claimed the life of Leighton Brown, a 56‑year‑old maintenance supervisor for the New York City Housing Authority, on Saturday afternoon. While walking near a massive tree in the Cypress Hills Houses of East New York, a portion of the tree collapsed and struck Brown, killing him instantly.
Storm‑related damage sweeps Brooklyn
The incident occurred amid a powerful nor’easter that has ripped through the New York City area, toppling thousands of trees and causing widespread power outages. Residents of the Cypress Hills neighborhood reported multiple trees falling throughout the morning, with one tree coming down around 9 a.m. and another at approximately 3:30 p.m., the one that struck Brown.
Witnesses recall the moments before the tragedy
Park worker Roy Worth, who was nearby, described the scene: “There was a guy that was jogging and must have seen him, the guy under the tree and he was like, hurry and get the cones. There’s no way to survive that and they were pumping him for 15‑20 minutes right there.”
Brown’s neighbor, Sam, who lives across the street in Canarsie, said he saw Brown shortly before the accident. “I said to him, ‘you going to come and give me a hand?’ He said he had to go back to work again and asked for an extra shift,” Sam recalled. Brown had recently told friends he was excited about a promotion and that it would be his last week working at the housing complex.
Community mourns a dedicated worker
Tenants and coworkers expressed deep sorrow. Kevin Duran, a tenant in the complex, said, “He was a person who would come in without question, he did his job and he did his job well.” Another resident added, “Broke my heart. He was my good friend, short friendship but I loved talking with him for hours about life.”
Friends noted that Brown had been looking forward to the promotion and the extra shift that ultimately led him back to the site where the fatal accident occurred.
Safety concerns rise as trees continue to fall
Worth warned that the ongoing storm makes it difficult to predict which trees might fall next. “It’s scary because you don’t know which tree is going to fall and I’m here cleaning the parks, it’s very scary,” he said.
City officials have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident, but the Department of Parks & Recreation has been urged to assess the stability of remaining trees in the area and to prioritize public safety as the storm continues.
Nor’easter impact across the region
The nor’easter has caused extensive damage throughout the New York metropolitan area, including power outages, flooding, and numerous fallen trees. Emergency crews are working around the clock to clear debris and restore services. Residents are advised to stay indoors during the worst of the wind and to avoid areas with downed trees until they are deemed safe.
Leighton Brown’s death underscores the personal toll of severe weather events on essential workers who keep city infrastructure running. The community will remember his dedication and the sacrifice he made while serving the public.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
