03/02/09

CONNECTICUT  STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE

  CAR vs PEDESTRIAN (TROOPER) ACCIDENT

                                 I 95 Northbound exit 59 - 61,   Madison, CT

On Sunday, March 1, 2009 at approximately 9:13 p.m. Connecticut State Trooper Mark Farotti assigned to Troop-F in Westbrook was responding to a report of a two car collision on I-95 eastbound near exit 61. While Tpr. Farotti was enroute to the crash just north of exit 59 in Madison he came upon a car that had “spun-out” into the median and was facing west bound in the east bound median.

Trooper Farotti positioned his state police cruiser in the median with his emergency lights activated to warn on-coming traffic. To attempt to “right” the vehicle, Trooper Farotti temporarily closed the eastbound side of the highway I-95 to all traffic to allow the operator of the “spun-out” vehicle to turn it around and travel in the proper direction.

After bringing all traffic to a halt Trooper Farotti was standing on the hash marks separating the right and left travel lanes facing in a northerly direction. All traffic was stopped when suddenly a dark colored vehicle attempted to pass Trooper Farotti in the left lane. The passenger side front of the dark colored vehicle struck Trooper Farotti throwing him into the right lane. That dark vehicle continued east on I 95 and fled the scene.

All police agencies were made aware that a Trooper had been struck and all attempts to locate the evading vehicle were unsuccessful. No witnesses to this accident were located at the scene and no further description of the evading vehicle is known.

It was snowing at the time of the collision and the roadways were slick. Trooper Farotti was transported by ambulance to Yale New Haven Hospital . He was treated for a serious fracture injury and contusions. Trooper Farotti was admitted to the hospital and is scheduled for surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital. 

Anyone with any information is asked to please contact Connecticut State Police at 860 399-2100.  All calls will be kept completely confidential.

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LT. J. Paul Vance