Two individuals are now facing charges following an incident in Hartford last March, where a state police trooper was struck by a driver traveling in the wrong direction. Christopher Velazquez, aged 44, and Vilmarie Ayala, aged 33, both residents of East Windsor, have been charged, as confirmed by Connecticut State Police.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Velazquez was allegedly behind the wheel of a 2019 Honda Pilot that collided with Trooper Charles Luby on Jennings Road on March 12, 2024. After the crash, Velazquez reportedly fled the scene and abandoned the vehicle once it became inoperative. Meanwhile, Ayala is accused of providing false information to state police concerning the crash and the vehicle, which was traced back to her. Initially, Ayala claimed the car was stolen but later admitted that Velazquez was driving it.
Ayala was apprehended on April 8 by officers from the East Windsor Police Department when they found an outstanding warrant for her arrest issued by state police. She faces charges of third-degree hindering prosecution, interfering with police, and second-degree falsely reporting an incident. Velazquez was charged at Hartford Superior Court, facing several charges including reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, evading responsibility involving an injury, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, possession of a controlled substance, interfering with police, assault on public safety personnel, and first-degree reckless endangerment.
Events unfolded after a state trooper saw the Honda Pilot on Interstate 91 South near Exit 35A in Windsor, speeding up behind him. The vehicle’s registration had been suspended due to insurance issues, previously noted by an East Windsor officer. The driver allegedly accelerated over 100 mph on I-91 to evade the officer. The trooper followed as the driver made dangerous lane changes and eventually performed a U-turn, heading the wrong way on the I-91 South entryway from Jennings Road. Although the trooper activated his lights and siren, the driver did not stop, prompting the trooper to notify others via radio.
Trooper Luby, responding to the radio alert, encountered the Honda Pilot driving towards him in the wrong direction on Jennings Road. Despite Luby activating his emergency lights, the driver did not decelerate or attempt to avoid a collision. Luby positioned his cruiser in the path of the oncoming vehicle, leading to a collision where the Pilot subsequently became disabled on the I-91 ramp. The driver, identified as Velazquez, fled the scene on foot. Luby sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
State troopers, along with K-9 units and Hartford Police Department officers, searched for the suspect in the vicinity. A trooper identified Velazquez walking nearby and questioned him. Velazquez denied involvement in the crash and claimed he had been in an altercation with his girlfriend. After further investigation, it emerged that Ayala had reported her vehicle stolen and initially feigned ignorance about the driver’s identity before acknowledging Velazquez’s involvement.
Authorities executed search warrants on Ayala’s phone and the Honda Pilot, discovering approximately 10 grams of fentanyl inside the vehicle. Following her arrest, Ayala was released on a $25,000 bond, with a court date set for April 28 in Hartford Superior Court. Velazquez, free on a $100,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in court on May 9.
Community Impact
This incident highlights the significant dangers posed by reckless driving and the challenges law enforcement faces in managing high-speed pursuits. The charges against Velazquez and Ayala underscore the importance of accountability in road safety and the serious consequences of attempting to evade law enforcement.
For the Hartford community, such incidents can impact public perception of safety, particularly on major highways. The presence of controlled substances in the vehicle further complicates the situation, potentially raising concerns about drug-related offenses in the area. Residents and commuters alike might experience heightened anxiety about road safety, prompting calls for increased traffic enforcement and public awareness campaigns to deter similar behavior in the future.