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State trooper hit by wrong-way driver on Route 8

One of the responding officers, while trying to signal the driver to stop in their cruiser, was struck.

HARWINTON, Conn. — A Massachusetts man was issued an infraction after driving on the wrong side of Route 8 and hitting a state police cruiser, officials said. 

Just after midnight on Friday, numerous 911 calls to Troop L in Litchfield reported a wrong-way driver traveling south on the northbound side of Route 8 near Exit 42. 

As troopers headed to the area, more 911 calls reported updates on the driver's location. One of the responding troopers on the highway saw the driver approaching their location just south of Exit 44 in Harwinton. 

The trooper saw the driver was in the left lane and activated their emergency lights and siren, slowing down and signaling the driver to stop. 

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According to officials and dashcam footage, the driver slowed down but did not stop. Instead, they tried to drive around the trooper's cruiser and hit the front left side of the cruiser. 

No injuries were reported but the driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital for an evaluation due a "confused state of mind," according to officials. 

The driver, an 85-year-old man from Florence, Mass., was issued an infraction for driving on the wrong side of a divided highway.

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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com

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