Young Berlin Man Charged After Crash Into State Plow Truck: Police

BERLIN, CT — A 19-year-old male from Berlin was charged with drunk driving after crashing his vehicle into a state Department of Transportation plow truck early Friday morning.

According to Connecticut State Police Friday afternon, Nicholas John Jutras, 19, of Berlin, was charged with operating under the influence (under age 21) and following too closely, resulting in a motor vehicle accident.

Jutras was later released on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled for arraignment at New Britain Superior Court March 9.

With pockets of freezing rain hitting the area overnight, DOT trucks were spread out on many roadways treating the roads to guard against black ice.

At about 1 a.m., state police from Troop H in Hartford received a report of a motor vehicle crash on Route 9 south near Exit 23 in Berlin.

The crash, police said, involved a plow truck and a passenger vehicle.

The operator of the DOT plow truck told police he was treating the roadway on Route 9 southbound when the rear of the plow truck was struck by a Honda Accord.

The truck driver said two occupants of the Honda fled the scene, but the driver had remained, according to police.

State police said the two occupants who allegedly fled the scene were located a short distance away by Berlin police and brought back to the scene.

No injuries were reported as a result of the collision.

"During their interactions with the operator of the Honda, Troopers observed that he was exhibiting signs of possible impairment and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person," wrote state police Friday afternoo.

Police said Jutras agreed to participate in field sobriety tests, which were not performed to standard.

As a result of the on-scene investigation, Jutras was taken into custody and transported to Troop H in Hartford, where he was processed and charged.

The two occupants of the Honda were not charged in this incident.

For the Connecticut State Police news page, click on this link.