MERIDEN, Conn. — A Plainville woman was recognized Tuesday afternoon by Connecticut State Police for her quick thinking and swift action in the moments after State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty by an impaired driver on May 30.
Gerilyn Dubay received the Commissioner's Recognition Award at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy in Meriden.
“I have mixed emotions, but I’m very pleased with myself. I feel very happy,” Dubay said.
Dominique Pelletier, the wife of the fallen trooper, presented the award to Dubay.
“That’s important to me. I did it for justice. I did it for the family. For what I witnessed,” Dubay said.
Dubay was driving on Interstate 84 in Southington when she saw a red pickup truck swerve and strike TPC Pelletier, who was conducting a routine motor vehicle stop on the right shoulder of the highway.
The driver who struck didn't stop, so Dubay followed him while calling 911 to report what happened.
“I feel I didn’t have time to think. It’s just the type of person I am, I feel like that’s the way I live my life. I’m always going to do the right thing and, at that moment, the right thing was to follow Alex and get justice,” Dubay said.
She was able to catch up to the driver, who police identified as Alex Oyola-Sanchez, and told him what he did.
Police said Oyola-Sanchez acknowledged Dubay but attempted to take off, driving recklessly on the highway.
Oyola-Sanchez then pulled over on I-84, attempting to stop other vehicles.
Dubay stopped behind the truck to take pictures and made sure the driver didn’t get away.
She stayed with Oyola-Sanchez until state police arrived and took him into custody.
“She called me, told the whole story, and I just could not even believe what she shared with me, as brave and heroic as I know Jerry Lin to be like that is even taking it a whole step further,” Mary Beth Mahon said.
Mahon has been friends with Dubay for 15 years and was at the awards ceremony to support her.
“It's been a difficult time for her, knowing what she saw, witnessed and just being able to be a support system for her as something that I'm happy to be,” Mahon said.
Mahon says she is not surprised Dubay received the award because this is the type of person she is.
“She is just an outgoing person that does the right thing. She has great morals and values, and even in the school, like if, if something were to happen in the school, she tries to investigate, to find out and get to the bottom of what happened,” Dubay said.
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Cayla Cade is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at ccade@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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