Sandy’s death toll in New Jersey rises to eight

The death toll from superstorm Sandy is now at least 59 people along the Atlantic Coast. Eight of those deaths happened in New Jersey.

The latest to be discovered is an unidentified man’s body found in the Passaic River in Newark.

Bruce Litteri, 51, was killed after tree crashed onto his home in Jefferson.

Princeton Township police say 61-year-old William Sword was found trapped beneath a tree which fell as he cleared debris from his driveway Monday night.

Meanwhile, 69-year-old Joseph Godleski of South Hackensack was pulled from the Hackensack River, which overflowed and swamped two towns. The body was recovered Tuesday.

Mendham Township police say 54-year-old Richard Everett of Randolph and his 48-year-old wife, Elizabeth, were killed and their two sons were injured when a large tree fell on their pickup truck Monday night.

Hawthorne police say a 77-year-old borough man was killed when a tree crashed into his house in the Passaic County community.

And an Atlantic City woman had a heart attack while she was being evacuated Monday.

Asessing the damage

Much of eastern New Jersey was inundated by tidewater during the storm. President Obama and Governor Chris Christie are touring the damages to Atlantic City together now. The hurricane made landfall just south of the city Monday evening.

As many towns and cities in New Jersey continue clear the streets of downed trees and hanging electrical wires, more than 2 million residents here are still without electricity. At the peak, an estimated 2.7 million had no power.

Because of the ongoing hazards, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed an executive order postponing Halloween until Monday.