The acting chief of medicine at Metropolitan Hospital was killed yesterday when strong winds uprooted a tree that crushed his car. Dr. John Corser was instantly killed, but somehow, his two children, ages 4 and 8, in the backseat were spared.

A state police sergeant, James Kranik, explained, "The front limb of the tree, shaped in a V or a Y, landed directly on top of the driver. He was killed instantly. The rear limb landed on the trunk. {The kids} were in between the two limbs, and ultimately that's what saved them."

Corser and his wife, Dr. Lourdes Figueroua, had moved from Brooklyn to Croton several years ago. Corser also directed the HIV program at Metropolitan Hospital and led the hospital's medical ethics program, according to the Journal News. The Journal News also mentioned, back in 2004, there were two separate incidents in Westchester where falling trees killed the parents in the front seats but the children in the back survived.

Metropolitan's medical director Dr. Richard Stone said, "Dr. Corser was an esteemed member of Metropolitan Hospital's staff where he served as acting chief of medicine with great commitment, compassion and skill. He was a beloved personal physician to a great number of patients in the East Harlem community, many of whom are desperately ill."