Man Charged With Driving Drunk Into Southington Construction Site: CSP

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Eleven days after a state trooper was killed in Southington while stopped on Interstate 84, police Monday charged a motorist with major safety violations not far from where the tragedy occurred.

State police early Tuesday afternoon said a Rhode Island man has been charged with impaired driving on Interstate 84 in Southington after he drove into a construction zone early Monday morning.

According to state police, Andrew Bravo, 25, of Providence, R.I., was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol/drugs in a construction zone; reckless driving in a construction zone; failure to obey the signal of an officer; and four counts of second-degree reckless endangerment.

Bravo was transported to Troop H in Hartford and released on $500 bond with a scheduled appearance in New Britain Superior Court on July 12.

According to state police, at about 12 a.m. Monday, a trooper out of Troop H in Hartford was working at a highway construction project on I-84 West near Exit 30 in Southington.

"While assisting with lane closures associated with the project, the trooper observed a Honda Pilot traveling within the already closed travel lanes," police wrote in a release Tuesday.

"The Honda was further observed circumventing crash trucks and passing the Trooper’s cruiser, all of which were blocking the closed travel lanes and protecting workers in the roadway."

Police said several construction workers were working in the right and center lanes of the roadway, which were closed to traffic, and the trooper initiated a motor vehicle stop.

Police said the Trooper cycled through multiple siren tones and the Honda finally came to a stop within the construction pattern.

While speaking with Bravo, the trooper observed Bravo was exhibiting signs of impairment.

When asked if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages, Bravo said he had consumed alcoholic beverages prior to driving, according to state police.

Bravo then failed field sobriety tests and he was taken into custody, with the Honda being towed from the scene.

Based on the information obtained during the on-scene investigation, Bravo was placed under arrest and the Honda was towed from the scene.

This incident happened not far from the May 30 tragedy when state police Trooper Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed by an impaired motorist while making a traffic stop on I-84 East in Southington.

That suspect has been arraigned in court and is facing manslaughter and impaired driving charges, among others.

From June 5: 'Fallen Trooper Laid To Rest Amid Outpouring Of Emotion'