Middletown Storm Claims Two Lives

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The icy weekend storm's effects claimed the lives of two people. A city man was killed when his car slid down the driveway and pinned him underneath. A power restoration worker was killed by a falling tree as well.

Rodley Russo, 75, of Fowler Avenue was pinned underneath his vehicle in the middle of Fowler Avenue Jan. 21 around 2:45 p.m. It appeared to have rolled from an icy inclined driveway, according to police.

Russo was freed and transported to Hartford Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The power restoration worker killed by a falling tree has been identified as East Haddam resident Howard "Lonnie" Alonza Duffy III, 43, of East Haddam.

Duffy was working as a sub-contractor for Eversource Sunday when the tree struck and killed him, according to NBC Connecticut.

Duffy leaves behind three children and a fiance. He was working as an equipment operator for Riggs Distler.

Middletown Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the incident, according to the Middletown Press. Duffy was working to restore power on Millbrook Road Sunday afternoon.

"Last night a lineman was fatally injured during the storm," Gov. Ned Lamont tweeted Monday. "This is a reminder of the danger these men and women face on our behalf. While many are still out there working today, please join me in acknowledging them and sending our thoughts to this person’s family."

Middletown Mayor Dan Drew asked people to think about the lineman and his family.

"The men and women who work to get our power back on do an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous job and in often unpleasant conditions," Drew said on Facebook.

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