Downed Wires Delay Effort To Save Driver Killed By Falling Branch

FAIRFIELD, CT — Efforts to save a man who was killed by a falling tree limb were delayed nearly an hour Wednesday, as rescuers waited for electrical workers to confirm power lines downed by the branch were safe, a fire official said.

The incident occurred at 5:16 p.m. in the 3500 block of Park Avenue in Fairfield, after a large cottonwood limb was struck by lightning and fell, pulling down electrical wires and hitting 21-year-old Jarrod Marotto, of Southington, who was driving northbound.

Downed wires are considered live until the electric company can come to the scene and verify the lines are dead, according to Fairfield Fire Department Assistant Chief George Gomola, who said the downed electrical wires were on Marotto's vehicle.

"Regardless of what's happening inside the car, a representative from UI needs to come out and turn the power off," Gomola said.

Electrical workers cut the power in the area at 6:10 p.m., according to Gomola.

"It did take a while for UI to respond," Gomola said. "... It is something that we're very concerned about."

A UI spokeswoman stated in an email that the company can't comment on an active investigation, but that UI will assist Fairfield police as they follow up on the incident.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and loss of life," spokeswoman Tara Morgan stated in the email.

Once the power was cut, Marotto was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, where he died of his injuries, according to Fairfield police. Marotto was the only person in the vehicle when the branch fell.

Marotto is the second driver to die after being hit by a falling limb in the last month in Fairfield. David L. Schmerzler, 54, of Fairfield, was driving northbound June 30 in the 3300 block of Sturges Highway when a large branch from a Sassafras tree fell and struck him. In that case, the limb apparently broke off as a result of strong winds and stormy weather, police stated at the time.