Middletown High School Shuts Down After Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of Teacher and Student

Middletown, Connecticut — Middletown High School is closed on Tuesday following the deaths of a teacher and a student in a small aviation crash in Vermont Sunday.

Vermont State Police named the victims as 55-year-old Paul Pelletier of Columbia, 88-year-old Frank Rodriquez of Lebanon, 51-year-old Susan Van Ness of Middletown, and her 15-year-old daughter, Delilah Van Ness.

According to Middletown Public Schools authorities, Pelletier taught aerospace and manufacturing, and Delilah was a sophomore in high school. According to Middletown police, Delilah was taking flight lessons with Pelletier.

“This unimaginable loss has left a void in our hearts and our community,” Middletown Public School Superintendent Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos stated in a statement to the community. “Paul, Delilah, and Susan were special individuals whose absence is already being felt throughout our district and city.”

Following their deaths, school administrators stated:

Middletown High School will close on Tuesday, September 10. All high school autumn sports games planned for Tuesday will be rescheduled. Student-athletes can choose whether or not to practice.

On September 10, crisis teams will be present at Middletown High School during regular school hours to offer students and staff support, counseling, and assistance.

Support staff will be present at all schools in the district to provide additional assistance as required.

The district’s website provides information on discussing death and unexpected tragedy with children under the heading “death and unexpected tragedy.”

According to the city’s fire department, the teen and Pelletier helped teach their department mates how to fly drones, having a passion and love for aviation.