Officer Hospitalized After Car Crashes Into Cruiser: Hamden PD

HAMDEN, CT — An officer was injured when a vehicle crashed into his police cruiser while he was on storm-related traffic duty Tuesday night in Hamden. Several other officers were nearly struck by a driver who was operating under the influence while they were investigating the crash, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

At about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 4, the officer was blocking traffic from going south on Whitney Avenue and Augur Street due to tree branches and downed wires in the road. The officer was seated inside his police cruiser with the emergency lights activated, according to Smith.

A 34-year-old East Haven resident who was traveling south on Whitney Avenue “drove directly into the driver’s side door” of the officer’s police cruiser, Smith said. A preliminary investigation revealed that the operator did not attempt to reduce speed prior to the crash, according to Smith.

Both the officer and the driver of the vehicle that struck him were taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles suffered extensive damage and were deemed “totaled,” according to Smith.

While investigating the crash, a vehicle that was being driven by Luis Rios, 32, of Hamden was traveling north on Whitney Avenue. Rios drove around a Hamden police cruiser and through yellow caution tape and nearly struck three officers, according to Smith.

Rios was eventually stopped on Whitney Avenue, near Augur Street. Police found that Rios was intoxicated and he was arrested, according to Smith.

Rios was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and failure to obey an officer’s signal. He was released after posting a $500 bond.