21-year-old woman killed by tree as severe storms rip through New Jersey

TEANECK -- A 21-year-old woman was killed after a tree fell on her in New Milford, New Jersey, early Wednesday.

New Milford police say officers responded to the 100 block of River Edge Avenue just after 7:30 a.m. When they arrived, they found half of a large maple tree on top of four vehicles.

Michelle Mian was on the ground under the large tree limb, next to the driver's side of one of the vehicles. She was taken to Holy Name Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Mian attended Bergen County Community College, where she was headed for summer classes, and worked as an intern in the radiology department of Holy Name Hospital.

She was found by family members who called 911.

"I just woke up in the morning and came to the car, and I saw that her body was there on the ground," sister Tabish Mian said. "Then I saw that she wasn't breathing either."

Sue Tate-Potanovic, the Assistant Administrative Director of Radiology at Holy Name, released the following statement:

"Michelle was an exceptional student from the very beginning of her clinical training at Holy Name. She was motivated and eager to learn, and was extremely sweet, kind and caring to everyone she met. Michelle truly understood the meaning of quality patient care and her compassion for our patients was evident. We were blessed to have known her, and extend our deepest condolences to her family."

Her school community also expressed their condolences.

"Bergen Community College mourns the tragic passing of Michelle Mian," a statement read. "The College offers its most sincere condolences to her family and friends. Counselors are available for students, faculty and staff."

It unclear why the tree broke in half, but the town did experience heavy rain and storms overnight.

"It's very hard, because when you lose someone as precious and amazing as Michelle, then you hurt like this," Tabish said. "I'm never going to be okay with this. I never will be."

Mian lived with her parents, older sister and older brother. She was a graduate of Bergenfield High School.

"She's the kindest person you'll ever meet," Tabish said. "She's amazing in so many ways, and it's not fair that she's not here with us right now. It's really not."

Bad storms and flooding caused commute and other problems in the Tri-State area overnight and in the early morning, especially in New Jersey. Amtrak had delays on service between Washington and Philadelphia due to severe weather. Service was suspended between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa. About 6,000 power outages were estimated in New Jersey, mainly in Bergen and Warren counties.

A powerline also was down at the corner of Woodcliff Avenue and Mill Road in Woodcliff Lake:

In Clifton, there were several reports of damage, including a tree across Dalewood Road, near Pershing Road. No injuries were reported. Two pine trees also were leaning onto a house at 53 Rosedale Avenue.

More on the overnight bad weather:

Clifton police responded to numerous reports of small trees and branches down. The damage appears to be concentrated in one section of town.

Paul Ferrante, also of Clinton, said this isn't the norm during storms.

"I know how big these trees are," he said. "It isn't very not often you see one of these trees that big knocked over."

The wind also knocked shutters off houses and ripped up shingles.