Plainfield, CT — The 21-year-old Dayville man who struck a Plainfield Police Cruiser as it was blocking I-395 for a tractor-trailer fire Saturday morning has been charged with Operating Under the Influence, among other charges.
According to the Connecticut State Police, at 2:25 AM on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, a 2021 Hyundai Elantra SE, operated by a 21-year-old Dayville man, was traveling North on I-395 in the left lane. At the same time, a Plainfield Police Officer had positioned his cruiser, a 2022 Chevy Tahoe, across both lanes of the two-lane highway in the area of Exit 29 with its emergency lights on and road flares deployed to prevent vehicles from approaching a tractor-trailer fire that was ongoing further North. The Elantra failed to stop and struck the side of the cruiser.
The Plainfield Officer was out of his vehicle, directing traffic off Exit 29 when it was struck. He escaped without injury.
The police went on to indicate that the Dayville man told Troopers on the scene he had consumed alcoholic beverages earlier in the night and was unable to stop his vehicle in time. He was evaluated on the scene and transported to Day Kimball Hospital by American Legion (Moosup) Ambulance with minor injuries.
On scene investigation determined the man was operating under the influence, and he was later arrested and held on a $500 cash bond for the following charges:
- Operating Under the Influence (C.G.S. 14-227a)
- Failure to slow and move over for emergency vehicles (C.G.S. 14-283b(b))
- Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle (C.G.S. 14-300c(c))
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