3 dead in historic floods this week – NBC New York

The death of a Connecticut man whose body was found in a river downstream from his submerged pickup truck may be linked to the devastating floods that killed two other people in the state, police said Friday.

The body of 59-year-old Robert Macisaac was found in the Aspetuck River in Westport on Thursday afternoon, Fairfield police said. His truck was found about a mile upstream in the river in Fairfield.

“A preliminary investigation indicates that the incident may be related to severe weather conditions that affected the area last Sunday, although the exact cause of the vehicle leaving the road remains under investigation,” police said in a statement. “The official cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.”

Sunday's storm brought more than a foot of rain to southwestern Connecticut, the National Weather Service said. Small streams and rivers turned into raging torrents, roads and bridges were washed away, and homes and businesses were flooded.

In separate incidents in Oxford, two women died after being swept away by floodwaters; dozens more were rescued.

According to public records, Macisaac lived along the Aspetuck River in Weston, less than a half-mile from where his truck was found underwater and unoccupied by a police diver at Aspetuck Falls on Thursday. Police said it appeared the truck had been in the river for several days. His body was discovered about five hours later.

Macisaac was last seen around 5 p.m. Sunday, and his truck was last seen in Wilton around 10 p.m. the same day, police said.