Man Killed When Tree Falls On Pasadena House

PASADENA, Md. (WJZ) -- The storm system that passed through our area killed two people last night, including a man in Pasadena who died when a tree came crashing down on his home.

Rochelle Ritchie spoke with the man's son and friends.

This tragedy is a prime example of how sometimes you can take shelter inside your home and still become the victim of a violent storm.

"I'm so sorry. He was a sweet dad," said Donnie Cannata.

Donnie Cannata was consoled by neighbors as news spread of his father's tragic death. His father, 72-year-old Don Cannata, died Monday night when a tree came crashing down on his home, killing him instantly. The tree was discussed many times by the family--to cut it down.

"It's a very brutal thought to have that in your mind and then to look and to know my father's life was taken from that tree," said Cannata.

Tuesday, friends of the victim came and lay flowers in front of the house and shared fond memories of the retired veteran.

"I've known him since I was a little kid. It's a sad thing," said Craig Bell.

"Sweet man. Doesn't many any sense," said another neighbor.

"It was unreal. I didn't believe it so I had to come down for myself to see. Still hard to believe," said Mark Lugenbeel.

It was around 11 p.m. Monday. High winds spread across the region, bending trees in the air and ripping them from their roots.

"It's very sad, very tragic," said Denise Mingioni.

Mingioni, a next door neighbor, says she heard a loud crack and, seconds later, a crash.

"I knew something had fallen; I couldn't tell in which direction," she said.

The victim's son says he left his father's home just a few hours before his death.

"This is a tragedy for me, for my friends and family, to witness this type of destruction in a house I've lived in for 40 years," he said.

No one else was hurt.