Man Killed by Fallen Tree Branch on Putnam County Trail During Windstorm

Tragic Incident on Putnam County Trail

• 💔 A man, identified as David Valdivia, was tragically struck and killed by a fallen tree branch while walking his dogs.
• 📍 The incident occurred on the Putnam County Trail in Brewster yesterday afternoon amidst strong, gusty winds.
• ⚡ The tree, described as having split bark, uprooted and fell across the trail, leading to the fatal accident.

Victim and Community Impact

• 🐶 Valdivia, 62, was walking his two dogs, Poncho and Bongo, at the time of the incident.
• 🐎 He was a horse groomsman and well-known in the local equestrian community, having worked at Castle Hill Farms.
• 🇲🇽 A native of Mexico and a naturalized citizen, his body is being organized to be sent back to his native country.
• 💰 A GoFundMe is being organized to help cover the expenses of returning his body to Mexico.

Trail Conditions and Warnings

• ⚠️ Eyewitnesses noted the presence of many dead and dying trees and branches along the popular trail.
• 🌲 The gusty winds proved too strong for the tree, causing it to fall and resulting in the fatality.
• 🚓 Police responded to mile marker 53 in Brewster, where the victim was found to have been struck in the head.