Police: Weston man’s body, submerged car pulled from river likely related to Sunday’s severe weather

The victim was identified as 59-year-old Robert Macisaac of Weston.

Marissa Alter

Aug 23, 2024, 3:58 PM

Updated 53 days ago

Share:

The death toll from Sunday's torrential rains and devastating flooding may now be at three people. Fairfield police said they pulled a Weston man’s body and car from the Aspetuck River Thursday and believe the incident is likely related to the severe weather last weekend.
Police identified the man as Robert Macisaac, 59, and said he was last seen Sunday evening. News 12 is told Macisaac lived alone and had not been reported missing. Police got involved when they got a call from their counterparts in Weston around 12:40 p.m. Thursday about a submerged vehicle in the Aspetuck River behind Aspetuck Falls. The Weston Volunteer Fire Department identified Macisaac as a former member who served the department from 1985 to 2000.
“They believed that vehicle to have been there for some time, probably since Sunday, and it was unoccupied at the time. They requested our assistance believing it was in Fairfield, which it ended up being,” Sgt. Michael Stahl told News 12.
Stahl said Fairfield officers, including a diver, responded and found the car was 60% submerged and unoccupied, but the keys were in the ignition making police believe someone had been behind the wheel when the car went into the water. “That's when it turned more from the recovery of a vehicle to the recovery of an individual,” Stahl explained.
Just after 5 p.m., police discovered Macisaac's body about a mile down the river by Bayberry Lane and Easton Road in Westport. “It's not confirmed yet, but all the evidence does point to the fact that this was weather-related from the storms on Sunday,” Stahl said.
Stahl also told News 12 there’s “a high probability” that Macisaac went into the Aspetuck River after being overtaken by rushing water while crossing the bridge on Sawmill Road—just feet from his driveway. It’s believed Macisaac was headed home after going to dinner in Wilton.
On Friday, a neighbor was working on repairing the now-damaged bridge, which had yellow caution tape up in sections. He told News 12 that on Sunday night, the river rose above the bridge’s railings and washed them away. He called what happened incredibly sad.
Police said this is an ongoing investigation, and the official cause of death would be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
“Our thoughts, our condolences go out to the family and loved ones. There were a couple deaths from the storms on Sunday. It's just a tragedy all around,” Stahl said.
The bodies of two Oxford women were discovered earlier this week after police said they were swept away by floodwaters.