What Happened To Roosevelt Island Southtown Lawn Maple Tree - Massive Branch Torn Away

Westviewer asks:

I've been out of town for a week and came back to see a massive tree limb torn away from one of the maple trees on the Southtown lawn near the subway station. Does anyone know what happened? There is a big black section in the wood at the point where the branch tore away. Is it some kind of illness or interior rot that caused the damage? Lightning?

Rebecca Knell shares picture of the damaged tree

and reports:

Oh dear, poor tree.

Another reader asks:

There is a huge branch of the tree down on the way to the subway. Practically, a tree. I hope nobody got hurt. Is there any info?

Does anybody know what happened to the tree?