Flags to fly at half-staff for fallen 18-year-old state parks worker

Dariel Vasquez was with a team of six state parks workers who were cutting trees and digging fire lines in the woods off East Shore Road on the border of New York and New Jersey.

Julia Rosier

Nov 17, 2024, 10:56 PM

Updated 5 days ago

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The 18-year-old who died while working fight back the flames in Greenwood Lake was remembered Sunday during a wake service.
Dariel Vasquez was with a team of six state parks workers who were cutting trees and digging fire lines in the woods off East Shore Road on the border of New York and New Jersey. His co-worker told News 12 that Vazquez was in an area considered to be a safe zone when his teammates cut down a tree and it fell at an unexpected angle. It landed on Vazquez who died from his injuries.
Friends and family were at T.J. McGowan Sons Funeral Home in Garnerville to remember him. Fire, EMS and police crews had engine lights on and a flag raised.
Vasquez was a 2024 Ramapo High School graduate.
A funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Church in Haverstraw. Gov. Kathy Hochul is also directing flags to be at half-staff in his honor.