By Tiffany Williams –
BERLIN, Conn. — A West Hartford man was arrested Thursday night after state police say he crashed into a parked Connecticut Department of Transportation vehicle inside an active construction zone on Route 9 northbound.
The crash occurred around 9:17 p.m. on July 17 near Exit 34, where Troopers assigned to a highway construction project were stationed. According to police, the left lane and the off-ramp at Exit 34 were closed when a vehicle traveling northbound in the right lane veered into the construction pattern and rear-ended a parked DOT vehicle actively displaying emergency safety lighting.
State Troopers and EMS responded to the scene. The DOT supervisor, who was inside the struck vehicle, reported minor pain and was evaluated at the scene but declined medical transport. The other driver was uninjured.
Police identified the driver as Brian Ayers, 46, of West Hartford. Troopers said Ayers showed clear signs of impairment, including the odor of alcohol, an open container inside the vehicle, and instability while standing. He reportedly failed standardized field sobriety tests and was taken into custody without incident.
Ayers was transported to Troop H and charged with the following:
– Endangering Highway Workers (CGS 14-212d(b))
– Operating Under the Influence in a Construction Zone (CGS 14-227aZ)
– Failure to Maintain Proper Lane in a Construction Zone (CGS 14-236Z)
– Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (CGS 53a-63)
He was released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on July 31.