DUI Driver from Hamden Strikes Police Cruiser on I-95, Flees the Scene: State Police

GUILFORD, CT — An intoxicated driver from Hamden struck a State Police cruiser in Guilford on Interstate 95 Saturday night and initially left the scene before he was apprehended, State Police said.

No one was injured in the crash but State Police are urging "all motorists that you are required to “slow down and/or move over” when approaching emergency vehicles located in the shoulder, travel lane or breakdown lane of a highway."

The incident occurred at 9:18 p.m. as State Troopers from Troop F-Westbrook were assisting with a disabled tour bus, that had broken down in the median of I-95 northbound in the area between Exits 56-57 in Guilford, State Police said.

While assisting passengers transfer to a second bus, Troopers shut down the left lane of traffic for pedestrian safety and positioned their cruisers in the left lane with emergency lights activated, State Police said.

The accused vehicle traveled towards Troopers in the left lane and failed to stop, yield, or move over for the emergency vehicles before striking an unoccupied cruiser, State Police said. The vehicle then pulled ahead of the cruiser and briefly stopped in the left lane and then accelerated and continued to travel north on I-95, State Police said.

Troopers subsequently located the vehicle on I-95 north of the scene of the collision, State Police said. The operator of the vehicle, identified as Genaro Claussels, 48, of Hamden, was not injured and admitted to being involved in the accident, State Police said.

During the course of the investigation, Claussels submitted to and failed to perform standardized field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest, taken into custody and charged with operating under the influence; evading responsibility of an accident and failure to reduce speed/move over for an emergency vehicle, State Police said. Claussels was held on a $10,000 surety bond.