Police Probe If Wind Played Role In Death Of 56-Year-Old Worker In Teaneck
TEANECK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police on Tuesday investigating if strong winds that downed trees and power lines across the Tri-State area played a role in the death of a man who fell off the roof of a seven-story office building in New Jersey.
Clifford Lemay, the building manager at the Glenpointe office complex in Teaneck, was found on the ground around 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The 57-year-old had gone up to the roof to check for damage from the strong winds overnight, the building's management company said.
"At this time, it appears that Mr. Lemay's death can be attributed to a horrific accident and no foul play is suspected," Teaneck Police said. "However, the investigation is ongoing and investigators are trying to determine if high winds played a factor in Mr. Lemay's death."
Lemay's body was discovered by a passerby, CBS2's Steve Langford reported.
"He was highly regarded by all of us -- a person who was appreciated and loved by both our employees and tenants who knew him," said David Sanzari, president and chief executive officer at Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, which manages the property. "We at Alfred Sanzari Enterprises extend our heartfelt condolences to family members and friends of the deceased and offer our help to the family that may be needed at this difficult time."
Lemay had worked as a building manager with the company for four years.
Loved ones were stunned and grief-stricken by the news that Lemay was believed to have been thrown to his death by a gust of wind. They said they were very upset and had no comment.
"He was a good man," a woman who knew Lemay said. "He was a hard-working, good man."
Lemay lived by himself in Palisades Park, where a neighbor absorbed the news.
"I don't know him that much -- he comes and he goes," said neighbor Suren Tegrar. "But he seems like a gentleman to me."
'It Happened So Quickly'
The gusty winds, which reached up to 50 miles per hour, also caused damage around the Tri-State area.
The winds toppled a large tree onto a house in Massapequa, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
"It was making a noise like a jet flying by, that's how bad it was and it happened so quickly," resident Patsy Williams said.
The dead tree in her backyard damaged the brand new siding and gutter when it came crashing down.
"If that tree would have been three or four feet over the head of my bed, is right there where I was laying with my grandson," she said.
In Selden, an unlucky driver woke up to a damaged car under branches blown down by forceful winds, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
On Raymond Place in Yonkers, a tree trunk crumpled a Toyota RAV4 underneath its weight.
Monday evening, the fire department was called to 79th and Broadway in New York City after debris fell from the 12-story condo building, The Apthrop. Luckily no one was hurt.
Thousands of power outages were also reported in spots around the region overnight.
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