News Summary
A man was arrested for crashing his vehicle into a Connecticut Department of Transportation truck while under the influence at a construction site. The incident happened late Thursday night on Route 9 near exit 34. Eyewitnesses noted the driver’s erratic behavior before the crash, which resulted in minor injuries to a construction worker. The driver faces multiple charges, highlighting ongoing concerns for safety in construction zones as incidents have increased this year.
Berlin – A man has been arrested following an incident in which he allegedly crashed into a Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) vehicle while under the influence at a construction site on Route 9 late Thursday evening. The incident occurred just after 9:15 p.m. near exit 34, where construction work was ongoing.
According to state police, the left lane of Route 9 and the exit 34 off-ramp were closed for construction when the accident took place. A CT DOT supervisor’s vehicle, which was parked with its emergency safety lights activated, was rear-ended by another vehicle driven by 46-year-old Brian Ayers from New Haven. Eyewitness reports suggest that Ayers was attempting to slow down but ultimately veered into the construction area, colliding with the supervisor’s vehicle.
The DOT worker involved reported experiencing minor pain and was assessed on-site by emergency personnel. Fortunately, the worker did not require hospitalization after the collision. Ayers, although not injured, exhibited signs of intoxication at the scene.
Upon arrival, state troopers noticed the smell of alcohol on Ayers and found an open alcoholic beverage in his vehicle. Additionally, Ayers was described as extremely unsteady on his feet. Following a failed field sobriety test, authorities arrested him on multiple charges, including:
- Endangering highway workers
- Driving under the influence in a construction zone
- Reckless endangerment
- Failure to maintain proper lane
Ayers was later released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 31. The Connecticut State Police dispatched personnel to the scene, which was part of an ongoing construction project.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding driver safety in construction zones. According to reports, there have been 33 incidents this year in Connecticut involving construction workers being struck while performing their duties in active work zones. Such statistics emphasize the critical need for heightened driver vigilance, particularly as summer typically sees an uptick in construction activities across the state.
In light of this recent crash, transportation officials are reminding drivers to exercise caution and remain aware of their surroundings when approaching construction zones. The safety of workers and motorists alike depends heavily on attentiveness and compliance with road regulations.
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Additional Resources
- Fox61 News
- Wikipedia: Construction Zone Safety
- WFSB News
- Google Search: CT DOT accidents
- CT Post
- Google Scholar: Construction Worker Safety
- New Haven Register
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Construction Zone Safety Measures
- JSONline News
- Google News: Worker Accidents Construction Zones
