BURRILLVILLE, R.I. — A 63-year-old Massachusetts man tragically lost his life Friday afternoon after a freak accident on a hiking trail in Burrillville. Authorities say the man was found pinned beneath a large tree branch on Nipmuc Trail, a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
According to Burrillville police, the man had set out for a hike earlier that day. When he didn’t make it back home, his worried family went searching for him. Around 4:30 p.m., they discovered him unconscious on the trail, trapped under the hefty branch. Emergency responders were called, but sadly, he couldn’t be saved.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. High winds tore through the region on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Power lines went down, trees were uprooted, and in one case, a building even lost its roof. Police believe the fierce gusts likely caused the branch to fall, leading to the devastating incident.
Right now, investigators are still piecing together what happened, though they’ve made it clear they don’t suspect any foul play. The Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office has stepped in to determine the exact cause of the man’s death, which could shed more light on this heartbreaking story.
For now, it’s a grim reminder of nature’s unpredictability—and a loss that’s left a family grieving far too soon.