Source: Aaron Hernandez's uncle dies in Conn. moped crash

BRISTOL, Conn. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A Conn. man killed in a moped crash in Bristol early Saturday is the uncle of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, a law enforcement source told The Hartford Courant.

According to the newspaper, the crash occurred shortly after 1 a.m. at the intersection of Central Street and Church Avenue.

Police said the driver of the moped, 49-year-old Robert Valentine, was treated at the scene, but died before he could be transported to the hospital.

The source told the newspaper that the victim was the brother of Terri Hernandez, Aaron Hernandez's mother.

The crash remains under investigation; however, police believe Valentine, who was not wearing a helmet at the time, was driving north on Central Street near Church Avenue when he struck the curb on the right side of the road and was thrown from the moped.

Aaron Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. Lloyd's body was found June 17 near Hernandez's North Attleborough, Mass., home.

Authorities believe Lloyd was killed with a .45-caliber Glock, which hasn't been recovered. State police and police divers have been searching Pine Lake in Aaron Hernandez's hometown of Bristol; however, authorities would not comment on the search except to confirm it is related to the Hernandez investigation.

If Valentine is Aaron Hernandez's uncle, this is the second family to have passed away since the beginning of the investigation into Aaron Hernandez's alleged involvement in Lloyd's murder.

Aaron Hernandez's cousin's husband Thaddeus Singleton, III was killed in a car crash June 30. The Hartford Courant reported that Singleton, who was killed when his car went off the road and careened into the Farmington County Club in Conn. Singleton, 33, was associated with Hernandez and of interest to investigators.

For more information: The Hartford Courant

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