Elderly driver goes wrong way on Route 8, crashes into Connecticut State Police trooper
By: -----
A Connecticut State Police trooper was struck by a wrong-way driver on Route 8 in Harwinton early Friday morning.
State police said Gerald Lapointe, 85, of Florence, MA, traveled the wrong way on Route 8 north about a mile south of exit 44.
The trooper noticed the wrong way driver, activated the cruiser’s lights and siren, and slowed in the same lane.
Lapointe moved to swerve around the trooper’s cruiser at about 30 mph, state police said.
However, he struck the cruiser head-on. It happened around midnight.
No injuries were reported.
Lapointe was transported to a local hospital due to “a confused state of mind,” state police said.
Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.
Lapointe was issued an infraction for driving the wrong way on a divided highway.