Car Wrecks State Police Cruiser at Highway Construction Site

EAST HARTFORD, CT — A Vernon woman was taken to an area hospital after the car in which she was a passenger slammed into — and wrecked — a state police cruiser at a highway construction site on Wednesday night, authorities said.

The crash took place at about 9:30 p.m. near Exit 58 in the eastbound side of Interstate-84, according to a crash report.

According to the report, a state police cruiser — a newer Ford Taurus — was parked at a marked construction zone that took up two lanes to the far left, just before Exit 58. The trooper saw a 2001 Honda Accord approaching the construction site and moved his cruiser in an effort to prevent the Honda from entering the coned-off area, according to the crash report.

The Honda then slammed into the rear of the cruiser, causing "debilitating damage," according to the crash report.

The driver was identified as Richard Knight, 56, of Downing St., Bloomfield. State police said the passenger was Naomi Dwyer, 36, of Morrison St., Vernon. Both were taken to area hospitals for medical evaluations, according to the crash report.

The trooper was not injured, according top the crash report.

Patch File Photo