Falling tree kills man, 28

JAMESBURG — A Monroe man was killed last week when a large tree fell on him during a tree removal job he was working on with his brother’s company on Woodland Road in the borough.

Jerrold Love, 28, of Buckelew Avenue, was working with his brother and father to remove a giant, 2-foot-thick red oak from the backyard of a residence shortly after 5 p.m. Dec. 12 when that tree fell onto a second one, which in turn toppled and pinned Love.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:38 p.m., said Jamseburg acting Police Chief Paul Karkoska.

Love, a graduate of Monroe Township High School, was working with his father, Robert, and brother, Andre, who owns the company Love’s Tree Removal. Jerrold’s mother, Betty, was at the scene looking on at the time of the accident. His younger brother, LeMont, was the only member of the family not present.

Andre was cutting the tree, which was tied with a rope to a truck in order to provide tension. Robert was operating the truck, and Jerrold was standing nearby on a neighbor’s lawn, directing his father.

The tree, whose limbs had already been removed, was supposed to fall straight to the ground but instead hit the second tree, which may have fallen so easily because its roots had rotted.

A neighbor called 911 at 5:07 p.m. after seeing the commotion following the accident, but responders were unable to save Jerrold Love, Karkoska said.

“It really was a very devastating accident for the parents to witness,” Karkoska said. “No parent should see their child die in front of them. We don’t live to bury our children.”

Karkoska said the family has continued working in order to keep themselves busy following the tragedy. The Loves returned to the scene of the accident the following day to clear away the tree trunks.