Trooper Hurt After Wrong-Way Driver Hits Cruiser In Hartford: Police

HARTFORD, CT — An on-duty state trooper was taken to the hospital — but escaped serious injury — Tuesday night despite having a wrong-way driver on Interstate 91 slam into his vehicle.

Connecticut state police Wednesday morning released the accident report, which stated the operator of the wrong-way vehicle fled the scene on foot after the crash.

According to police, the accident happened at about 8:13 p.m. Tuesday on I-91's southbound Exit 33 on-ramp.

Police said a cruiser being driven by Trooper Charles Francis Luby, 25, was traveling west on Jennings Road in Hartford and was approaching the I-91 South, Exit 33 on-ramp.

That's when a 2019 Honda Pilot, being driven by Wethersfield resident Christopher John Velazquez, 43, exited I-91 while going the wrong way in Luby's path.

Police said Luby positioned his cruiser in a manner to stop the wrong-way vehicle and "prevent a head-on collision with innocent motorists."

The Honda ended up striking the police cruiser and then a light pole, police said.

The vehicle driven by Velazquez continued down the on-ramp, where it eventually became disabled, according to police.

State police said Velazquez fled on food, with Luby being transported to the hospital with "minor injuries."

Police said the case is still under investigation and "multiple arrests are forthcoming."

This incident comes after a similar situation in East Hartford where a state police cruiser stopped a wrong-way driver on March 10 on Route 2.

A 69-year-old East Hartford man was charged with several offenses related to that incident.

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

From March 11: 'Wrong-Way Driver Charged After Crash In East Hartford: Police'