Suspect in hit-and-run incident that killed a Connecticut State Police officer faces trial

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (WTNH) – A man charged with a hit-and-run that killed a Connecticut State Police trooper in May will face a judge in New Britain on Tuesday.

Suspect Alex Oyola-Sanchez, 44, faces multiple charges in connection with the death of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, including second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and failure to move. He was held on $1.5 million bail.

Pelletier was conducting a routine traffic stop on Interstate 84 just before Exit 31 in Southington on May 30 when he was approached by Oyola-Sanchez outside his patrol car, state police said. According to the state police report, Oyola-Sanchez admitted to using drugs the day of the hit-and-run crash.

During a court hearing on June 6, Oyola-Sanchez appeared virtually from a hospital bed. He has pleaded not guilty.

Oyola-Sanchez had previously been convicted of third-degree murder, attempted manslaughter and other crimes in his native Puerto Rico.