Tonight on Connecticut's news station,
Another death on Connecticut's roadways
during this 4th of July weekend,
the latest report from state police, plus
smoke billing billowing out
of one of Hartford's towers.
We're learning more about that
fire reported at the Frontier
Communications Building.
Ringing in the red, white and be
will have the sights and sounds
from around Connecticut as our
state celebrates Independence D.
Now at 10, this is FOX 61
Connecticut's news station,
and we begin tonight on the
weather watch and the powerful
storms that plowed through much
of the state this afternoon.
Good evening and thanks for
joining us for the news.
At 10, I'm Brent Hardin.
I'm Sarah Sanchez,
4th of July Soaker for many of .
But it was more than just the r.
Some people across the greater
Hartford area saw significant
flooding problems like this.
Check out the flooding issues ie
capital city along Westbound Parkway.
Cars in a fire truck had to true
through a river through a road
and people driving on the highway may
have dealt with this near 0 visibility.
Windshield wipers flying in the
threat of hydro planning as the
torrential rains came down on
91 N in the Rocky Hill area.
And how about this?
Almost looks like a geyser reported as
the flooding problems were promt
in parts of Wethersfield as wel.
Fox 60 winds Gabby Molina reporn
some of the problem flooding sps
around the greater Hartford are.
A giant rain cloud over this 4th of July.
Not not a fun one.
It was a lot of a lot of emotional distress,
heavy downpours leading to flash
flooding that made roads and backyards
in West Hartford look more likea
lake like these off of Quaker L.
Oh, it was coming
down absolute sheets and and evn
the gutters couldn't take it.
While the rain fell quickly,
the damage that caused will be long lasting.
Nicole Sillinock and her girlfriend are
among those now left to pick upe
pieces after their basement flo.
We were sweeping rain out.
We put our couch up on paint ca.
Some stuff already got
destroyed as little too late.
Rug got completely destroyed.
It was just a nightmare, really.
As soon as the downpours began,
there was concern in Hartford's
North End about flooding,
and with good reason,
inside of North United Methodist Church.
The water started pouring in,
flooding the basement of this
building and the one next door
bringing all of this mud in.
And this isn't the first time.
It's happened at least three ti.
That we have had to renovate
the space because of the
flood. A day meant to be spent enjoying
time off turned into an all hann
deck effort to clean up.
We had to get started.
We couldn't wait until tomorrow,
couldn't wait until the next da.
So we can't wait for funding.
$85 million in state funding has been
committed to address the longtie
problem with flooding in Hartfo.
Now you have the North End
that is literally drowning.
And water and sewage waste.
Community activists say Monday's flash
flooding is an example of just w
desperately help is needed. You cannot
just throw money at it.
You have to get the job done.
So we're looking for some
action, immediate action,
reporting in Hartford, Gabby Mo,
Fox 61, Connecticut's news stat.
Now the rain has moved out and e
bringing in the heat and humidi.
Yeah, classic feel for the start of July.
Chief Meteorologist Rachel Frank
joining us now with the forecast
tracking the rest of the week and Rach
summer lovers about to get their fix.
Yeah, I think that the most impressive thing
about the next few days is actually going
to be that it will be dry for a change.
But yes, we've got the combinatn
of heat and humidity.
And the potential for a heat wave with
three days in a row with temperatures
up around 90 degrees.
Taking a look at the radar,
you'll see a few lines of showers and
storms that made it through the state today.
It wasn't just about what fell from the sky,
but was already fallen over the course of the
last few days that made it so problematic.
We are dry out there tonight th.
Visibility low in a few locatios
with areas of patchy fog.
We're down to three quarter mile
visibility for Oxford and also for Monroe.
It's because we have so
much moisture in the air.
We got dew points in the
upper 60s to right around 70.
So we're all the way here at the top of
the scale heading through the day tomorrow.
Though rain, not our issue but the heat
and humidity will be mostly sunny skies.
A nice beginning with temperatures starting
in the upper 60s to right around 70 degrees.
And as we head through the afternoon,
we'll see highs between 85
to right around 90 degrees.
So nothing oppressive,
but just enough to remind you of what
summer usually feels like around here.
And get used to the humidity.
While the heat and the highest temperatures
will really only be the next few days,
the humidity will persist right through
the weekend and even into earlyt
week. We'll take a look coming .
Thank you, Rachel.
Will the weather put off the Cif
New Haven's fireworks show last night,
so tomorrow night?
People in the Elm City are hopig
things will go off without a hi.
The city says the fireworks will
fly around 9:00 PM tomorrow nigt
with all the changes to firewors
displays due to the weather.
Be sure you head to fox61.com fa
list of the displays happening around
the state and their new rain da.
You can also find that list
on the FOX 61 News app.
And while the rain might have
put off some 4th of July plans
in the West End of Hartford,
the West End Farmers Market didt
let the weather dampen their spirits.
Fox 60 ones DE Andrea Turner std
by the market today and she jois
us now with their mission D'and.
Well, it is a weekly market that comes
to the West End of Hartford evey
Tuesday from June until October.
Now the organizer tells me that
it doesn't matter if it's rain
or shine or even the 4th of Jul,
they'll be there every single Tuesday.
You know, we're here to feed the people
and that's what we hope to do 20 seasons
later. The goal remains the same
for the West End farmers market.
Organizer Jessica Inman says tht
they want to provide residents easier
access to freshly grown produced
give vendors access to new customers.
I think it's a really
huge benefit for the community.
For food access, for the farmer,
the small businesses,
everybody that comes out,
they want to grow their business
and we want to support them.
And this is a great way
to be able to do both.
Every Tuesday, local vendors like Amy
Davis, who owns Wicked Good Bak,
sets up shop on Clemens Green.
Feels really good. Yes, my love language.
So I'm always giving people bread, whether
it's fresh bread, fruit and
veggies and even flowers.
Residents like Josten Serta says
important to have access to thi.
In Hartford. We don't really
have like super fresh produce.
So having farmers markets really helps,
you know, with that. And not evn
rain or 4th of July stopped
them from being here. And we
want to get in the habit of peoe
expecting us here every Tuesday.
So we're here regardless of whe,
regardless of what day it is,
we're always going to be here
being there for those
who count on these days.
So it was an icky day and then.
I think we were just kind of lie
looking forward to this because
we have like garden kitchen and
like knowing we can get like
really tasty sweet fruit today.
That was just something,
you know, to look forward to.
Now, another thing they do to make this
farmers market more accessible is they
Double Supplement Nutritions Assistance
Program or SNAP benefits for customers.
So say if you take $20.00 to the market,
they're going to double it
for $40 to shop in the studio.
D Andrea Turner, FOX 61,
Connecticut's news station.
Really cool. All right,
thank you, d'andrea.
And Speaking of our Fox 61 News,
like we mentioned,
make sure you keep it handy to
track severe weather across the state,
especially as things get warmer
and storms turn louder and
potentially more dangerous.
It's free for your
smartphone or mobile device
and new tonight.
A teenager has died following a
crash in Westbrook this afterno.
State Police say 19 year old
Nathaniel Lapel Junior crashed
into a tree off old Clinton Rd.
near Hammock Rd.
Troopers are still investigating what
led up to that crash and this ms
the third death on Connecticut's
roadways this 4th of July weeke,
according to State Police.
And that tops the number of deas
from last year's Independence
Day statistics when 2 deaths.
Were reported by state Police between
last Thursday and this morning.
Troopers have responded to
about 6100 calls for service.
There have been more than
400 crashes reported,
which is more than last year.
And 34 people have been arrested
for driving under the influence,
still just a few less than last year.
A new report highlights a troubg
trend on America's roadways.
That report shows pedestrian
deaths across the nation are
projected at a 41 year high.
And the numbers are also up here
in Connecticut. Fox 60 ones.
Angelo Bavaro breaks down
those numbers for us tonight.
The numbers tell a tragic tale
on Connecticut's roadways,
what we saw in 2022.
In Connecticut was one of the
deadliest years for all users oe
roadways for drivers and pedestrians.
According to a report by the
Governor's Hwy. Safety Associat,
Connecticut saw an 11% increasen
pedestrian deaths from 2021 to .
Preliminary data shows 62 deaths last year.
There are a lot of contributing factors
we've seen with our fatalities.
Whether it's distracted driving,
reckless driving to include speeding,
whether it's alcohol or cannabis induced
the increase, prompting
action from state police,
which launched a new initiative
last May targeting traffic deat.
So far this year,
we've seen a decrease of fatalis
just for state police alone,
looking at what some of the
contributing factors are,
some of the hot spots that
Connecticut State Police have
seen with our fatalities and kid
of going out into those areas.
The road to safety also passing
through the state Capitol,
lawmakers passed the Vision
Zero bill this past session,
which includes measures like education
campaigns around drug driving and other
action such as red light and speed cameras
upon the approval of the communities.
The ultimate goal? 0 deaths.
The work to get there,
Impossible to measure in miles
looking at blood alcohol conten.
Utilization of alcohol and canns
on our roadways that impact we o
have unfortunately one of the highest
incidence of wrong way driving deaths.
The dot also working on this is.
Some of those projects include
reducing some multiple lane roas
into one lane to slow cars down
and also making changes at some
crosswalks by adding lighting on
some cases raising those crossws
reporting in Wethersfield.
I'm Angelo Bavar, Fox 61,
Connecticut's news station.
Angelo thanks Firefighters are l
investigating the cause of the e
that happened inside the Frontir
Communications building in downtown Hartford.
Fire crews arrived on scene this
afternoon along Trumbull St.
and found smoke pouring out of the building.
The fire was found in a storage
closet on the ground floor.
No one was inside the building at the time,
and no injuries were reported.
A scary fall in Bristol when a car went
tumbling over a bridge this mor.
Police say the vehicle was
going north on Andrews St.
and went off the road and over a
bridge abutment over the river.
Two people were rescued from
the vehicle and were said to be
conscious and alert when they we
sent off to the hospital.
There's no word yet on
what caused them to crash
and back to Hartford.
A car went careening into
a pillar outside a church.
This happened outside the Saint Lawrence
O'Toole Church on New Britain A.
Even though the car flipped
onto the driver's side,
the driver got out safely and
didn't report any injuries.
The man accused in a deadly shog
this week in Hartford is schedud
to go before a judge tomorrow.
Jordan Green was arrested Monday night
for a deadly shooting on Prospect Ave.
Police say he shot Gregory Betsy
multiple times early Monday.
Betsy died at the hospital.
Green faces a slew of charges,
including murder.