Huntington Woods public works employee fatally struck by falling tree limb

A public works employee in Huntington Woods, Michigan, is dead after a tree limb fell on him while he was clearing a road on Friday night, the city said.

Doug Chmiel, a supervisor with the city's Department of Public Works, was helping with cleanup efforts after high wind gusts swept through Southeast Michigan on Friday. Mayor Bob Paul said multiple trees were down across different roads.

According to officials, Chmiel was clearing the road so that emergency vehicles could get through.

"There were three guys from DPW that were there on-site. It was dark. They did hear a branch break and next thing they knew, he was on the ground with the branch on him," Paul said.

Chmiel was taken to the hospital where he later died, officials said.

"This is a profound loss for the entire Huntington Woods staff and community," the city said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "Our employees are the foundation of our organization, and losing a colleague who was dedicated to their work and community is truly heartbreaking."

According to the city, Chmiel's survivors include his wife and three children, ages 12, 9 and 7. An online fundraiser has been created in an effort to support his family.

"Doug was one of those guys that always had a smile on his face, was always talking about his kids and what he'd done with his kids over the last weekend, whether it was ice skating or swimming or camping or whatever it was," Paul said in an interview with CBS News Detroit.  "He was always involved with his three children."

He added that the city will pay tribute to Chmiel, who officials said had been working for the city since around 2020, in some way at a later time.

According to Paul, workers with the City of Berkley were helping out in Huntington Woods on Saturday on "an emergency basis" as local staff were grieving.