A Village of Great Neck woman was hospitalized after a tree fell through her second-story bedroom just after midnight Monday and crushed her, fire officials said.
Stephanie Epstein, a 20-year-old Wooleys Lane East resident and student at Binghamton University, was transferred to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset for treatment of “multiple trauma injuries and is listed serious but stable condition,” according the Nassau County Police Department.
Officials from the Great Neck Vigilant and Great Neck Alert fire departments, as well as rescue teams from departments in Manhasset, Port Washington, Bellmore and Bethpage, Nassau County Police, Nassau County Fire Marshals, Nassau County Emergency Services and the county Emergency Ambulance Bureau worked for more than two hours to remove the tree from atop the woman, who had been asleep on her side.
“We cut some areas of the tree away and lifted the tree eight inches off of her to be able to slide her out,” said Great Neck Vigilant Fire Chief Josh Forst, who said the tree weighed 5,000 pounds.
Vigilant firefighter Steven Blocker, who lives across the street from the site of the incident, said he heard the tree fall from his home.
“Before I could do anything to get out, my door started banging very heavily,” Blocker said. “I immediately came outside and [the family] led me upstairs.”
The cause of the incident is under investigation, police said.
Joe Gill, the Village of Great Neck’s clerk-treasurer, said the tree may have been damaged in a prior storm.
Gill said the village maintains only trees located on public property or property that the village owns.
The village often sends public works crews to study private properties where potentially dangerous branches or trees are located, but only if a complaint is first filed, Gill said.
Great Neck does not have the authorization to investigate private property without permission, Gill said.
A “notice of defect” complaint was not made about the tree, Gill said.
Forst said the victim’s family is grateful to the fire department for all the help she received.
Geoffrey Epstein, Stephanie’s father, told Newsday: “We’re more than appreciative of the well wishes and the care she’s received so far.”
