Powerful thunderstorms that swept through New Jersey on Thursday killed at least three people and knocked out power to thousands, officials said.
In a social media post late Thursday night, Gov. Phil Murphy said he had been briefed on the “severe thunderstorms that hit Central Jersey … and resulted in fatalities.”
Without providing additional details, he urged anyone in the towns of Plainfield, North Plainfield, Bound Brook and Dunellen to stay inside and avoid any downed trees, power lines or burning transformers.
Officials in Plainfield, a city of about 55,000 located 30 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan, confirmed two storm-related deaths in a statement issued Friday morning.
“Tragically, the storm claimed the lives of two individuals,” the statement read in part. Rocco Sansone, 79, and Brian Ernesto Valladares, 25, died “when a tree fell on the vehicle they were traveling in.”
Despite a prompt response by emergency personnel, both men were pronounced dead at the scene just before 7 p.m.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said his administration is prepared to assist the victims’ loved ones in any way needed. It’s unclear how the two men were related.
“Our hearts are heavy today. This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life,” he said. “We mourn with the families and stand ready to support them in every way possible.”
One storm-related death was also reported in neighboring North Plainfield.
The driver of a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee died after a large tree and a portion of the sidewalk uprooted and fell across Greenbrook Road, landing on top of the vehicle while it was stopped, officials said in a statement early Friday afternoon.
The victim, a 44-year-old female from Middlesex, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A state of emergency was declared in Plainfield, leading to the cancellation of the city’s July 4th Parade, concert and fireworks.
More than 80 downed trees had been reported across the city, crushing multiple vehicles, officials said. Widespread power outages also affected residential neighborhoods and apartment complexes in the area.
More than 18,000 customers remained without power across the state as of Friday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us.