Meriden Man Injured in Crash that Sent State Trooper to Hospital

CHESHIRE, CT — A State Trooper was hospitalized with suspected serious injuries in a crash on I-691 West in Cheshire while he was assisting a disabled vehicle on Monday evening.

State Police said that Trooper Jack Kulig, 36, was assisting a disabled motorist who was parked in the center median cross back into the right shoulder near Exit 3 just before 5 p.m.

Kulig was traveling in a manner to block traffic so the disabled vehicle could move into the left lane and then transition to the right lane, police said.

The police cruiser’s emergency lights were activated during the incident and when they moved into the right lane, the cruiser was struck by a Honda Civic operated by Steven Veras, 25, of Providence, R.I., according to police.

The Civic struck the rear of the police cruiser, which caused it to spin into the wire rope guardrail.

Kulig was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, as was Veras and his passenger, Enrique Trinidad, 29, of Meriden.

Both Veras and Trinidad sustained what police said appeared to be minor injuries in the crash.

Images via Connecticut State Police