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Hawthorne Man Killed, Passenger From Paterson Hurt When Tree Falls On Car

A 25-year-old motorist from New Jersey was killed Friday afternoon when a large tree fell on his car on the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield County amid the damaging Nor'easter.

The Merritt Parkway (Route 15) near the Stamford-Greenwich border.

The Merritt Parkway (Route 15) near the Stamford-Greenwich border.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Jonathan Rodriguez-Melendez of Hawthorne was traveling southbound near the Stamford-Greenwich border south of Exit 33 at about 1:20 p.m. amid rain and severe crosswinds when the tree fell on his Mini Cooper, Connecticut State Police said.

Rodriguez-Melendez was pronounced dead at the scene. Francisco Berdecia, 33, of Paterson, New Jersey, a passenger in the vehicle, was transported to Greenwich Hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The large tree dislodged and fell directly on the car, police said.

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