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Obituaries
Boy, 5, Who Fell Into Connecticut River Has Died; Police ID Him Boy, 5, Who Fell Into Connecticut River Has Died; Police ID Him
Boy, 5, Who Fell Into Connecticut River Has Died; Police ID Him The 5-year-old boy who fell into the Connecticut River in Middlesex County last week while kayaking has died, authorities said.  Jaxon Podbielski, of Higganum, was kayaking with an adult and fell into the water around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 26, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. It's unclear how long he remained in the water before his father pulled him out.  WTNH reported the child suffered pediatric cardiac arrest when he was pulled from the water. Original Report: 5-Year-Old In Critical Condition Following Kayaking Mishap Haddam paramedics …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Man, 64, ID'd As Victim Killed In Industrial Incident Man, 64, ID'd As Victim Killed In Industrial Incident
Man, 64, ID'd As Victim Killed In Industrial Incident Police in Fairfield County have identified the 64-year-old Connecticut man killed in an industrial incident on Wednesday, Oct. 30, authorities said.  Gary Deleo was assisting a customer at D&D Industries at 124 Magee Ave. in Stamford when he was struck by a front-end loader, authorities said Thursday.  Original Report: 64-Year-Old Man Killed After Being Struck By Front-End Loader The driver, 28-year-old Jake Sangalli, cooperated with officers and remained at the scene of the crash, Stamford Police said.  Paramedics rushed Deleo to Stamford Hospital, where he died o…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Hundreds Take Part In Funeral For Wethersfield Firefighter Killed Battling Blaze In Meridien Hundreds Take Part In Funeral For Wethersfield Firefighter Killed Battling Blaze In Meridien
Hundreds Take Part In Funeral For Wethersfield Firefighter Killed Battling Blaze In Meridien Mourners lined the roads leading to the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford on Monday, Oct. 28, to pay their respects to Robert "Sharkey" Sharkevich Sr. His casket was carried by a fire engine that was preceded by a cadre of police vehicles. His casket, draped in an American flag, was carried to its final resting place by his family and the firefighters who served alongside him.  Sharkevich Sr., age 66, was a lifelong firefighter. He served with the Hartford Fire Department for 25 years and the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years.  Related Re…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Friends Remember Man Killed In Crash: 'You Were Finally In A Good Place' Friends Remember Man Killed In Crash: 'You Were Finally In A Good Place'
Friends Remember Man Killed In Crash: 'You Were Finally In A Good Place' A 33-year-old Connecticut man was ID'd as the victim of a fatal crash that sent 4 people to the hospital over the weekend in New London County, authorities said.  Jason Poirier was involved in a two-car crash at the Colman Street and Broad Street intersection in New London on Saturday, Oct. 26, just before midnight, police said.  The New London man was one of four people rushed to hospitals, but Poirier succumbed to his injuries at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital on Monday, Oct. 28. The crash remains under investigation.  Poirier's friends have filled social media with me…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Gone Too Soon': Friends Mourn 23-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'Gone Too Soon': Friends Mourn 23-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash
'Gone Too Soon': Friends Mourn 23-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash Loved ones of a Connecticut man killed in a crash on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 24, said he was a caring, funny, and loving young man. Peter Bienasz, of Plainville in Hartford County, was riding behind a Toyota Prius on Route 72 near the I-84 on-ramp, when he crashed into the back of the car, causing him to slam into a metal guardrail around 12:14 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, Connecticut State Police said. He was tossed from his bike and died at the scene.  Original Report: Police Detail Crash That Killed 23-Year-Old Motorcyclist Facebook/Peter Bienasz Memorials poured in on social medi…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
7-Year-Old Girl Killed In Fire ID'd; Community Rallies Around Family 7-Year-Old Girl Killed In Fire ID'd; Community Rallies Around Family
7-Year-Old Girl Killed In Fire ID'd; Community Rallies Around Family A Connecticut fire department said it has been overwhelmed with donations for the family of a 7-year-old New London County girl who was killed in a house fire last week, but their needs remain.  Rylee Boldizar was killed when a fire broke out at her family's home at 83 Summit Street in Norwich before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Firefighters found the girl in her bedroom on the second floor.  Original Report: 7-Year-Old Norwich Girl Killed In House Fire While her three siblings and parents survived the blaze, they lost everything.  The Norwich Fire Department began…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
2 Killed In Fiery Crash ID'd As 39-Year-Old Woman, 59-Year-Old Man 2 Killed In Fiery Crash ID'd As 39-Year-Old Woman, 59-Year-Old Man
2 Killed In Fiery Crash ID'd As 39-Year-Old Woman, 59-Year-Old Man Connecticut police have identified the man and woman who were killed after their car crashed into a tree and burst into flames earlier this month in Hartford County.  Tiffany Cormier, age 39, and Russell "Russ" Bunn, 59, both of Bristol, were identified as the victims in a single-vehicle crash at 61 Johnnycake Mountain Road in Burlington just after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, Connecticut State Police said. Original Report: 2 Killed After Car Careens Off Road Into Tree Police said Cormier was behind the wheel of a Ford Taurus that veered onto the shoulder of the road for an unk…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'He Had A Bright Future': Family Remembers 29-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'He Had A Bright Future': Family Remembers 29-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash
'He Had A Bright Future': Family Remembers 29-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash The family of a 29-year-old Connecticut man killed in a Fairfield County crash last week said he could "brighten any room with his smile." Rohith Gurumurthy died around 1 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, when he crashed his motorcycle at 1080 Atlantic St. in Bridgeport. Zaveriya Shaikh, who was a passenger on the bike, was also killed in the crash, authorities said.  Both Bridgeport residents died at the scene.  Gurumurthy graduated this year from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield with a degree in health informatics and had big dreams for his life, a GoFundMe for his family said.&…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death 'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death A Connecticut community is preparing to bury one of its heroes after the longtime Fairfield County firefighter died earlier this week.  John "JB" Pyrek-Bennett, of Monroe, was just 55 when he died on Monday, Oct. 14, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, his obituary said. His wife of 29 years and three children survive him. Bennett spent his life giving back to his community, his family said. He served as assistant chief of the Glenbrook Fire Department in Stamford and was a lifetime member of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department.…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Semi-Pro Football Player From Prospect Killed In Rollover Crash On I-91 Semi-Pro Football Player From Prospect Killed In Rollover Crash On I-91
Semi-Pro Football Player From Prospect Killed In Rollover Crash On I-91 A 22-year-old man who was a star running back for a Connecticut semi-pro football team was killed after crashing his car on I-91 in Hartford County, authorities said.  Davian Andrew Pallotto, of Prospect in New Haven County, died after he rolled his 2007 Cadillac CTS around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, Connecticut State Police said.  Pallotto was driving north on I-91 when he veered across a lane of traffic onto a grassy median, where the car lost control near Exit 23 and began to tumble, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Pallotto played running …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend 'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend
'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend Friends and family of a 40-year-old Connecticut woman who was killed earlier this week when the car she was riding in crashed into a stone wall say she was kind, caring, and effortlessly cool.  Marie Nieves, of Bridgeport, died on Friday, Oct. 11, in a single-car crash on Route 8 in Trumbull, Connecticut State Police said.  Investigators say the Mercedes she was in suddenly veered onto the grassy shoulder near Exit 6 around 11 a.m. before crashing into the wall. The driver, a 60-year-old Bridgeport man, was seriously injured in the crash.  Paramedics rushed them both to …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Mom Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had Announced She Was Pregnant With Second Child Mom Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had Announced She Was Pregnant With Second Child
Mom Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had Announced She Was Pregnant With Second Child A 26-year-old Connecticut mother killed last week by a suspected intoxicated driver is being remembered for her sense of humor, her faith, and compassion for her friends and family.  Jada "Jay" Marie Upshaw was killed in a chain-reaction crash on I-91 in Rocky Hill in Hartford County around 8:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, Connecticut Police said.  Original Report: Jada Upshaw Killed In Multi-Car Crash In Rocky Hill Jay leaves behind a young daughter, and, according to a Facebook post she made last month, the Bloomfield native was pregnant with her second child — a baby boy du…

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by Josh Lanier