A veteran Tolland public works employee died after he was hit by one of his own trucks while patching potholes in town on Thursday, according to state police.
Police said David L. Ridzon, 50, of Willington, was fixing potholes in the area of 60 Anderson Road when a town dump track backed into him just after 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
LifeStar airlifted Ridzon to Hartford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 12:45 p.m.
"There was a tragic accident this morning resulting in the fatality of a town employee. We are all shocked and are grieving the loss of a dedicated employee," Town Manager Steve Werbner said in a statement Thursday.
Residents are reeling in the wake of Ridzon's death. Residents described Ridzon and the truck driver, a longtime colleague, as kind people and hard workers.
"It was just shocking. I'm a contractor, and it's one of these things that everyone's had a close call like this and you just... it makes you think sometimes," said Tolland resident Dave Busch. "My heart goes out to the families and the guys at work... and everybody involved."
Tolland suffered a tragic loss this am w/the death of a Public Works employee. We grieve as employees & w/family who has lost a loved one.
— Town of Tolland (@TownOfTolland) March 19, 2015
An accident reconstruction team is investigating the crash. Anyone with information is urged to call Connecticut State Police Troop C at 860-896-3200.
