Man killed by 'projectile' hurled from highway overpass, object smashed through his windshield as he was driving down the road: Family

Left inset: Todd Atkins (WTNH/Dana Pietruszkiewicz). Right inset: The Connecticut overpass where a "projectile" was thrown and killed Todd Atkins (WFSB/YouTube). Background: The overpass in Woodbridge where cops believe someone threw an object that killed Todd Atkins (WFSB).

A Connecticut man was killed by a "projectile" that came crashing through his windshield during an early-morning drive, according to his family. Cops believe the object was thrown from an overpass.

Todd Atkins, 43, died from blunt-force trauma to his torso after the Oct. 31 incident, his family says. A statement released on Facebook says police shared details of the incident with the family.

"Todd was driving along Route 15 in Woodbridge," the statement says. "It appears that a projectile was thrown from the bridge above the Heroes Tunnel on Racebrook Road (Route 114) that went through Todd's windshield."

Connecticut State Police say investigators are probing the incident and asking anyone who was traveling on Route 15 "in the vicinity of the Route 114 (Racebrook Road) overpass" or on the "Route 114 (Racebrook Road) overpass" that Saturday morning around 5:30 a.m. to contact police if they have information.

"We wanted to share some details and ask for the public's help in finding information about this tragic accident during this incredibly difficult time," Atkins' family says.

Police officials announced Wednesday that investigators had identified a possible suspect vehicle and were working to locate and make contact with the person or people of interest. Authorities have not publicly identified anyone in connection with the incident.

"He is gone so soon," Atkins' family says, describing him as someone who loved the outdoors and "loved being in his car," according to the Facebook statement.

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"And in this way, is unspeakably sad," they added. "He was a very caring and smart person. He loved his family and his friends. Todd would do anything to help anyone, whether he knew them his entire life or just met them."

Officials have asked that anyone with a dashcam who was traveling "through either of the aforementioned locations during the specified time frame" contact the police department.