CONNECTICUT, USA — The former two-time gubernatorial candidate OZ Griebel died at age 71 Wednesday.
Griebel was hit by a car while jogging in Pennsylvania on July 21. Details of the 71-year-old Hartford resident's condition and where exactly the accident on Tuesday happened were not released.
Griebel's family released a statement Wednesday saying he died as a result of complications from the injuries he sustained when he was struck.
Read the full statement below:
“Oz Griebel passed away on July 29 as a result of complications related to the pedestrian/motor vehicle accident he was involved in while jogging on July 21. The Griebel family is very appreciative of the outpouring of support they’ve received since the accident and will share information about services once arrangements have been made. They continue to ask for privacy at this time."
Griebel ran unsuccessful campaigns for governor as a Republican in 2010 and as an independent in 2018. He served for nearly 17 years as president and chief executive officer of the MetroHartford Alliance, an economic development group.
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski who ran against Griebel and current Governor Ned Lamont in 2018, tweeted praising Griebel's character and energy.
Governor Lamont released his own statement on Griebel Wednesday saying:
“Oz Griebel’s heart was with the State of Connecticut – he loved this state and the people who live in it, and he enthusiastically believed that its best days are ahead. I loved listening to his spirited energy whenever he spoke about the opportunity to make Connecticut and the Hartford region an even better place to live and work. We can all take a page from his commitment to work across the aisle and remove politics from policy. He will be missed, and I extend my deepest sympathy to his family. There is no place like Oz, and there was no one like Oz.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
