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STATE OF CONNECTICUT Department of Public Safety 1111 Country Club Road Middletown, Connecticut 06457 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2010 |
TROOOPER PREVENTS HIGHWAY TRAGEDY
DUE TO WRONG WAY DRIVER ON I-384
DUE TO WRONG WAY DRIVER ON I-384
On early Saturday morning, May 15, 2010, just before, 1:00 a.m.a State Police at Troop H received 911 calls reporting a wrong way driver had entered I-384 traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of traffic. The wrong way driver information was broadcast to all Troopers on patrol.
In an effort to intercept the wrong way driver, Trooper First Class Kenneth Freed, who was on patrol on I- 84 eastbound – a short distance from I-384 – continued eastbound in an attempt to intercept the wrong way driver. Additional reports indicated the wrong way driver had entered I-84 eastbound HOV lane traveling westbound.
Trooper Freed kept traffic out of harm’s way by keeping eastbound HOV traffic behind him and searching for the wrong way driver. Trooper Freed observed the wrong way driver traveling westbound on I-84 in the eastbound lane coming directly at him.
Trooper Freed immediately stopped his patrol car in the HOV lane as the wrong way driver was approaching. The Trooper quickly exited his cruiser and dove over the median divider as the wrong way driver struck the State Police car head-on in the HOV lane. The crash occurred in the town of East Hartford. Both the state police cruiser and civilian car sustained major front end damage and both were towed from the scene.
The operator of the wrong way car sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene and then transported to Hartford Hospital for precautionary reasons via ASM Ambulance. Trooper Freed was not injured due to the fact he was able to exit his patrol cruiser prior to impact.
Due to the quick reaction of Trooper Freed and the positioning of his state police car on the highway, no other cars were involved and no other injuries occurred in this wrong way crash. the accident investigation is continuing and it is anticipated that an arrest will be made in this crash. Trooper Freed is a nine-year veteran of the State Police Department and was not injured. He will return to patrol tonight, 5/15/10 for his next tour of duty. His State police car was totalled and is being housed at the Troop H garage.
The wrong way driver is identified as BRUCE ANDERSON, DOB:10/8/45, of 109 Heywood Drive, Glastonbury. He was operating a 2001 dodge caravan the wrong way on the highway.
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LT. J. Paul Vance