Jeep Lands on Top of Cop Cruiser in Wethersfield Construction Zone: State Police

WETHERSFIELD, CT — An East Hartford man was charged with drunken driving and violating the state's "move-over law" after his Jeep landed on top of a state police cruiser in a construction zone late Thursday night, authorities said.

State police said that at about 11:15 Thursday night, 22-year-veteran Detective Patrick Dwyer was sitting in his parked cruiser on Route 3 southbound at the Putnam Bridge in "an active construction zone."

Michael Gauvin, 43, of East Hartford, was operating a Jeep Wrangler southbound on Route 3 at the same time, state police said.

Gauvin came upon the construction zone, side-swiped a state Department of Transportation truck and then crashed into the rear of Dwyer's cruiser, state police said.

The Jeep wound up landing on top of the cruiser and a jersey barrier, state police said.

Dwyer was transported to Hartford Hospital with non-life threatening injures, state police said. Gauvin was also transported there for minor injuries, state police said.

Gauvin admitted to consuming alcohol, failed the field sobriety tests and was arrested, state police said.

Gauvin has been charged with driving under the influence, failure to maintain the proper lane and failure to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. He is scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Nov. 21, state police said.

Thursday was the third day in a row that vehicles have crashed in construction zones, state police said.

Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police