CT State Trooper Killed in Hit-and-Run on I-84

A Connecticut State Police trooper was killed Thursday by a fleeing driver while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 84, state police said.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that the Connecticut State Police announce the line of duty death of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier #536 of Troop H-Hartford,” the state police said in a statement.

State police previously said Troop H was investigating a serious injury crash on I-84 eastbound in the area of ​​Exit 31 in Southington.

The agency further stated that shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday on I-84 East in Southington, just before Exit 31, Pelletier was struck during a traffic stop by a passing vehicle outside his patrol car “that left the scene of the accident.”

Pelletier suffered fatal injuries in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.

The suspected driver who fled the car was found a short time later and is in custody, state police said. The driver has not yet been identified.

State police officials later said in a press conference that Pelletier was working overtime and made a stop to check for seat belt compliance. During the traffic stop, he was struck by a red truck, officials said. The driver of the truck fled and did not stop until exit 39A, police said.

During the press conference, State Trooper Ronnell Higgins, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz urged Connecticut drivers to slow down and be more cautious.

Higgins noted that Pelletier is “part of the fabric that holds this diverse state together.”

Colonel Daniel Loughman said Pelletier was the 26th police officer to die in the line of duty and that “he worked nine years on this job. He was a dedicated and compassionate professional.”

Pelletier was a member of the 125th Training Troop and served with the Connecticut State Police for nine years. He was married and had two children with his wife, Dominique. Pelletier joined the police force in 2015 and became a dog handler.

“TFC Pelletier served the citizens of the state of Connecticut with unwavering dedication, pride and professionalism and his sacrifice will never be forgotten,” state police said.

Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday he has ordered U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be flown at half-staff in Pelletier’s honor. The flags are to remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the funeral, which has not yet been set.

“I am devastated to learn of the loss of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, who was killed today in the line of duty to the people of Connecticut,” Lamont said.

“This is a tragic reminder of the dangers police face every day when they leave their homes and go to work. Trooper Pelletier served Connecticut with honor, integrity and dedication, and he embodies the definition of public service,” Lamont said. “His courage and bravery will never be forgotten. On behalf of the State of Connecticut, my condolences and prayers go out to his family, friends, and his brothers and sisters in the Connecticut State Police. I ask the people of Connecticut to keep Trooper Pelletier in their prayers.”

Bysiewicz said she was “heartbroken to learn of the death of Trooper First Class Pelletier,” noting that Pelletier even stopped her patrol vehicle to make sure she and her driver, the state trooper, were wearing seat belts.

“The members of the Connecticut State Police are known for their unwavering devotion to one another and for maintaining incredibly high standards of policing – but most of all, for their unwavering commitment to protecting and serving others and our state.

“State troopers are on our roads every day to protect the public – it is tragic to know that this trooper lost his life during a routine traffic stop,” she said. “I would ask residents to remain alert and cautious at all times when driving, but especially when State Police are on the roads doing their job. My prayers are with Trooper Pelletier’s family and colleagues.”

US Senator Richard Blumenthal said: “Pelletier courageously answered the call of duty this afternoon and made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“His death is a tragic reminder of the dangers all first responders face in the course of their work and a stark reminder to drivers that they must slow down and yield to stopped emergency vehicles,” Blumenthal said. “On our roadways, failure to slow and yield are common causes of death, and this loss should be a lesson that saves the lives of other brave first responders. My prayers are with the Pelletier family and the entire Connecticut State Police as they mourn this loss.”

US Senator Chris Murphy

US Senator Chris Murphy also expressed his dismay at Pelletier’s death in the line of duty.

“TFC Pelletier bravely served the people of Connecticut for nearly a decade and his death is a terrible tragedy. My thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as the men and women of the Connecticut State Police,” Murphy said.

Attorney General William Tong also said he was “absolutely heartbroken for the family of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier.”

“We all need to pray for and support his family and friends and every police officer and law enforcement officer in the state, especially those who worked with Trooper Pelletier and those who are still on our streets now, protecting our communities in the midst of this tragedy,” Tong said. “This shows how much risk our police officers and law enforcement officers take every day to keep us safe. For all we know, this didn’t have to happen. We must do everything we can to stop the dangerous and reckless driving that is endangering people, families and our law enforcement officers everywhere on our highways today.”

Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding said, “Our state mourns together the tragic loss of State Police First Class Trooper Aaron Pelletier, and we pray for his family.”

“Trooper Pelletier died in the line of duty for the people of Connecticut. He made the ultimate sacrifice while doing his job and protecting the public. We are all deeply saddened. His dedication and bravery will never be forgotten.”

Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne and Treasurer Shellye Davis said in a joint statement that the union “expresses our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Trooper Pelletier.”

“This is a reminder of the risk our state troopers and all first responders take every day as they try to help the residents of our state. More must be done to protect these workers so they can do their jobs as safely as possible.

“Every worker has the right to go to work and return home safely to their family. That’s really all a worker wants. To earn a decent living and return home safely.”

“We will keep Trooper Pelletier, his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

During the investigation, Interstate 84 eastbound was closed.