MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — This video aired in June.
Middletown schools will be closed Tuesday to mourn the death of a teacher, student and parent in a weekend plane crash in Vermont.
Paul Pelletier, 55, of Columbia, Delilah Van Ness, 15 and her mother Susan, 51, of Middletown, and Frank Rodriquez, 88, of Lebanon were killed when their four-seat, single-engine Piper plane crashed Sunday near Basin Harbor Airport in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.
Pelletier was described as a "remarkable" Aerospace and Manufacturing teacher at Middletown High and Delilah Van Ness had just started her sophomore year. Susan was Delilah's mother. The connection between the three and Rodriguez is unclear.
Pelletier ran a program for first responders to learn how to fly drones in the "Drones and Flight Science Class." Police said Pelletier was giving flight lessons to Delilah.
Middletown schools will be closed on Tuesday to honor the victims. All athletic events will be postponed and rescheduled.
"This unimaginable loss has left a void in our hearts and our community," said Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools. "Paul, Delilah, and Susan were special individuals whose absence is already being felt throughout our district and city."
Officials said crisis teams will be at the high school Tuesday to provide support, counseling, and assistance to students and staff.
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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