PHILIPSTOWN – A motorcyclist from New Milford, CT was killed Sunday afternoon as he rode on Route 9 in the Town of Philipstown when a tree fell into the road and struck him, Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith said Monday.

Eugene Wolfthal, 60, was driving southbound on Route 9 at Deer Ridge Road when the tree fell, striking him and causing him to be thrown from the bike. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 1 p.m. accident resulted in the road being closed for several hours during the investigation.