Manchester

Manchester Republican Town Committee Chair Hit and Killed by Car

The Manchester Republican Town Committee chairman has died after he was struck by a car as he was heading to an Election night watch party on Tuesday night, according to party officials.

John Deeb, 75, was killed in a crash in Manchester around 6:30 p.m., according to police.

Police said the crash happened on Hartford Road near Fairfield Street.

Connecticut Republican Chairman JR Romano said Deeb was the chair of the Manchester GOP Town Committee, a committee he was a part of for more than two decades.

On Tuesday, it was a somber mood at the Hartford Road Café where Republicans gathered to watch election results.

“It’s just a staggering loss. John Deeb was just dedicated to this community. We will miss him very much. And this is just utterly, utterly shocking. And we’re all so very sad over his loss,” said Matthew Galligan of Manchester.

They watched as investigators just outside the cafe pieced together the crash that took Deeb’s life on Hartford Road.

“More than anything else, more than politics, he loved Manchester and he loved our residents and I can’t stress enough this is a tremendous hole that will take a very long time to fill. We will all miss him,” Galligan added.

The CT GOP tweeted a statement on the loss.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, police said. Any witnesses are asked to contact police.

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