Unanticipated Consequences: Hurricane Irene Claims Another Life

Hurricane Irene was 6 months ago, but its effects linger. From today's high-fiber edition of WaPo:

Calvert man is crushed by fallen tree’s root ball
By Carol Morello, Sunday, February 26,7:27 PM

A Calvert County man died Saturday afternoon when a root ball the size of a small car rolled onto him while he was cutting up a toppled tree, authorities said.

Brian W. Buck, 50, of Lusby was working on an oak tree that fell last August during Hurricane Irene, said Lt. Steve Jones of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. When a large log rolled into the hole where the tree once stood, Buck jumped into the hole to retrieve the log.

A root ball estimated to weigh more than 10 tons then rolled into the hole, crushing Buck. A backhoe operator was summoned to lift the root ball, Jones said. Buck was pronounced dead at the scene.