Tragedy Strikes in Groton When Tree Kills Public Works Employee: Police

A Groton Public Works employee was pronounced dead at the scene of a Tuesday, August 4, accident, after a tree fell on his car.

A powerful storm wreaked havoc in multiple Connecticut towns that morning, but Groton fared the worst when Albert “Big Al” Smith, 50, of Ledyard, died while driving to work.

Smith was driving his car on Flanders Road near Route 1 when the tree fell, NBC Connecticut reported.

Police spoke of Smith’s qualities of compassion and caring.