State Police Cruiser Struck By Car On I-95 In Westport: State PD

WESTPORT, CT — A Connecticut State Police cruiser was struck by another vehicle on Interstate 95 in Westport over the weekend, according to state police.

In a news release, state police said troopers assigned to Troop G – Bridgeport received a report Saturday around 3 a.m. of a crash on I-95 southbound in the area of Exit 17.

When troopers arrived in the area, they found a stationary state police cruiser positioned in the left travel lane with its emergency lights activated.

According to state police, a 2015 Kia Sorrento was traveling in the left lane and approaching the stationary cruiser when the driver of the Kia, later identified as Sonny Abdul-Hardy, 47, of the Bronx, N.Y., failed to safely slow his vehicle or move to the right of the emergency vehicle and struck the back of the cruiser.

The trooper who had been driving the cruiser was outside of the vehicle at the time of the crash and was not injured as a result, state police said.

Abdul-Hardy was treated and evaluated by Norwalk EMS officers for minor injuries but refused transportation to a hospital, state police said. Both vehicles were disabled due to damage and towed from the area.

Abdul-Hardy was issued an infraction charging him with failure to drive a reasonable distance apart resulting in a motor vehicle accident and failure to move over for emergency vehicles, according to state police.

“The Connecticut State Police urge motorists to use extra caution when approaching police, fire, EMS, Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks – and their operators – who are working to keep Connecticut’s highways safe,” state police said in a news release. “As a reminder, Connecticut General Statute 14-283b requires drivers to SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER for stationary emergency vehicles on the highway.”