Crime & Safety
Suspect Charged In Death Of Trooper In Southington: CSP
Police have charged a 44-year-old Hartford man with manslaughter and impaired driving after a trooper was hit and killed on I-84 Thursday.
SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Hartford man has been charged with impaired driving and vehicular manslaughter after a state trooper making a traffic stop in Southington was struck and killed Thursday.
State police Friday morning said Alex Oyola-Sanchez, 44, of 584 Zion St., Hartford, was charged with failure to renew registration; illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance; evading responsibility of a crash causing death; illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; failure to drive in the proper lane; second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle; failure to move over; and illegal operation of a motor vehicle without a driver's license.
He is being held on $5 million bond pending arraignment in Hartford Superior Court on Friday, May 31.
Find out what's happening in Southingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to the Connecticut State Police accident report, a 1998 Chevrolet C1500 pickup truck being driven by Oyola-Sanchez slammed into Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier's cruiser while Pelletier was tending to a traffic stop on Interstate 84 in Southington Thursday afternoon.
The truck then struck and killed Pelletier, a resident and native of Southington who was standing on the side of the vehicle he pulled over, and the stopped vehicle.
Find out what's happening in Southingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The pickup truck stopped on I-84 in Farmington after a tire failure and Oyola-Sanchez was taken into custody to face several charges.
Pelletier's death shocked local police and state officials and prompted renewed calls for motorists to practice safer driving practices, especially when police have vehicles pulled over.
Police said Pelletier had pulled over a motorist not wearing a seat belt as part of a routine traffic enforcement operation.
The accident is still under investigation by the Central District Major Crime Squad and the Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Squad.
For the state police news page, click on this link.
From May 30: 'Fallen Trooper 'A Dedicated And Compassionate Professional:' UPDATE'
From May 31: 'Solemn Police Procession To Honor Fallen Trooper Friday'
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