A woman found dead in her vehicle overnight on Long Island is believed to be the first fatality of a strong nor’easter pummeling the tri-state.
The number of people reported dead during Saturday's blizzard has risen to four as police officials release more details of the deadly end-of-January storm that blanketed the parts of the area in almost two feet of snow.
At least two of those deaths have so far been linked directly to the storm, with police releasing preliminary details that suggest the men were trying to shovel snow at the time of their deaths.
One of those men was found in a swimming pool around 8:30 a.m. in Cutchogue, according to the Southold Town Police Department. The elderly man fell into the pool while he was shoveling snow, police said. Responding officers were unable to revive the man.
Fire department transported the man to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A man out shoveling snow was found around 10:40 p.m. in Syosset "lying on his back with a shovel beside him," according to police. His cause of death has not been released but police do not suspect foul play.
A second man died Saturday in Syosset, but his wife disputes initial claims that he died while out shoveling snow. Police said the 75-year-old collapsed on Barbara Drive Saturday afternoon.
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The man's wife told News 4 that he was two houses away from his home when he collapsed from a heart attack. She said he left to ask the neighbors to use a snow blower.
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Word of the first death -- although not directly linked to the blizzard -- came early Saturday, when Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said that a snow plow driver had found an elderly woman dead inside her vehicle overnight in Uniondale.
Her official cause of death has not been confirmed, but Blakeman said she likely suffered a heart attack or other sudden health event and was not able to get help during the storm.
"It's a sad situation, but it illustrates how dangerous it is, people should not be out unless it's absolutely necessary," Blakeman told News 4.
Long Island was hit especially hard, with snow totals topping out at 25 inches in Orient.
