New York Man Killed By Falling Tree While On Spring Break Trip

KEY POINTS

A 40-year-old man was on vacation with his family when he was killed by a falling tree
He died in his parents' own yard after sustaining multiple injuries
A GoFundMe was set up to support his wife and two young kids

A vice principal from New York was visiting family in Indiana on spring break when he was tragically killed by a falling tree on Sunday, authorities said.

According to a statement from local police, 40-year-old Elias "Eli" Smith died in his parents' own yard when he sustained multiple injuries from a tree that was toppled down by strong winds. Officers from the Carmel Police Department arrived on the scene at approximately 10:43 a.m. where they pronounced him dead.

Smith had been sitting around a fire pit with his brother when a storm moved in and forced the siblings to run for cover, WABC reported. Smith, however, never made it inside his parents' garage.

Steve Wagner, Smith's brother-in-law, said "Something that was supposed to be a post-COVID celebration actually turned into something terrible," the Indystar reported.

"There have been numerous reports of downed trees in the area of this incident," authorities said. Police are working with the Hamilton County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to investigate the incident further.

Smith was a public school teacher and the vice principal at the Math and Science Exploratory School, MS 447 in Brooklyn. He is survived by his wife and two young, children aged 3 and 5, all of whom accompanied him in the trip to Indiana.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Smith's family described him as a "devoted educator."

"He made a positive impact on the lives of many through his work in the classroom and as an administrator," said the organizer.

"Eli was one of a kind; he had a brilliant, inquisitive mind, a quirky sense of humor, and a kind soul."

He added that the people who will feel his absence the most will be his wife and kids.

The page had already gathered $153,195 out of its $200,000 goal as of writing, with many leaving their messages memorializing Smith and supporting his family.

"[My son] spoke so highly of Mr. Smith and what a kind loving man he was to everyone," one donor said. "I remember [Mr. Smith] as a wonderful and supportive educator," another one said.