A Nassau family on their way home from a North Fork birthday celebration had an unwelcome close encounter with a very large, falling limb on Main Road in Mattituck this evening.
The tree limb came down directly in front of the stretch limousine they were riding in just west of Wickham Avenue. The limo driver could not avoid hitting the limb, which damaged the nose of the vehicle. The downed limb’s branches surrounded the limousine as it dragged the limb at least 25 feet before coming to a stop.
Main Road was closed westbound at Wickham Avene and eastbound at Love Lane, with police detouring traffic around the accident scene.
One woman inside the limousine was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center by Mattituck Fire Department for injuries described by police as minor. The driver and four other passengers in the limo escaped injury but were shaken by the accident.
The limo driver, a Massapequa man, said he could not believe what happened. Officials at the scene credited his quick reaction and steady hand for avoiding a more serious accident.
“That was very good driving on his part,” said one firefighter.
It was not readily apparent what caused the limb to come down. Skies were clear and winds were calm at the time of the at about 7:15 p.m. The limb did not appear to be rotted, a police officer noted.
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti
