Weston Driver Charged With Manslaughter After Trumbull Crash

TRUMBULL, CT — A Weston man is charged in connection with a crash last year that killed a Fairfield towtruck driver on the Merritt Parkway in Trumbull, according to police.

Dean Robert turned himself in on Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest, Connecticut State Police said. He is charged with second-degree manslaughter with a vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to reduce speed or move for an emergency vehicle, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane, according to police. He was released on a $250,000 bond, police said.

Robert is accused of striking and killing 58-year-old Corey John Iodice in the April 22 crash, according to police. Iodice was an area native, who was born in Bridgeport and lived in Fairfield before moving to Seffner, Florida, according to his obituary, which referred to him as “a consummate professional who was widely known as the guy who made safety his top priority,” according to his obituary.

Iodice, who in 1991 received a Civilian Service Medal from the town of Fairfield for his contribution to saving a crash victim’s life, was operating a truck owned by Fairfield-based Iodice Family Transport LLC the day he was killed.

“Corey took pride in working side by side with his brother Chris and their father Russ, during countless emergency situations for the Fairfield Police and Fire Services,” his obituary said.

The afternoon of his death, Iodice was assisting a driver whose vehicle had broken down. Iodice's towtruck was stopped on the parkway's southbound right shoulder near Exit 47, along with a 2008 Mercedes and a 2010 Audi, according to police. The Mercedes was disabled and being loaded onto the truck at the time of the crash, police said.

Robert was driving in the right lane when he lost control of his 2016 BMW, hitting the Mercedes and the Audi, traveling up the truck bed and striking Iodice, who was standing near the flatbed, according to police. The truck then rolled over onto its roof, police said. Iodice was pronounced dead at the scene.

Robert, of the 100 block of Georgetown Road, is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 26, according to police.