CT leaders urge motorists to slow down, not drive impaired following deaths

Coming on the heels of two high-profile deaths of State Trooper Aaron Pelletier and a Department of Transportation worker Andrew DiDomenico , who were both struck and killed by drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, Connecticut’s leaders are begging the public to slow down in work zones and stop driving impaired ahead of the holiday weekend.

“All of us at ConnDOT are shocked and outraged by this horrible loss,” DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said during a press conference. “What is becoming clear to me is that this is far beyond a transportation problem. When a worker is killed by an impaired driver at nine o’clock in the morning while picking up litter tossed out windows, we have a much deeper crisis on our hands.”

“So far this year, more than 165 people have been killed on Connecticut’s roadways, nearly as many as this time in 2022,” Eucalitto said. “2022 was one of our worst and deadliest years in decades.”

Melissa Lombardi, Andrew DiDomenico’s aunt, spoke on behalf of the DiDomenico family, expressing gratitude for the “outpouring of support” from the public and from public officials, but also said the family hopes that legislation will be passed to increase penalties “for those who break the law and certainly repeat offenders.”

“No more slaps on the wrist,” Lombardi said. “People need to be held accountable for their poor decisions.” The woman who struck DiDomenico had numerous previous arrests and reportedly a history of addiction and mental health issues.

Pedestrian deaths and wrong way driving accidents have surged since the pandemic in 2020, an issue that Eucalitto says is a nationwide problem, and state leaders are unsure why the sudden change has occurred and are unsure how to reverse the trend.

“Ever since 2020, something changed in drivers,” Eucalitto said, adding that the “social compact” has been “thrown out the window.”

“They’re driving faster, they’re driving more erratically, they’re driving more distracted, and they’re driving more impaired. Nobody knows why,” Eucalitto said. “It probably has something to do with the stress people went through in 2020, the stress they’re going through today, but it is something nationally that is a major issue.”

Connecticut has one of the highest rates of impaired driving in the nation. The state has installed 60 wrong-way warning systems on highway on-ramps and expects to have a total of 140 by year’s end. Speed cameras on road work zones across the state will now be made permanent following a pilot program.

The legislature also considered lowering the blood alcohol content to qualify as intoxicated from .8 percent to .5 percent during the legislative session, but the bill did not pass.

Speakers, including Gov. Lamont, pointed out that drivers are already not obeying the law. “We’re having a hard time enforcing the rules we got right now,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “There’s an epidemic out there of people driving who should not be driving.”

“We’re doing everything we can as a state government,” Lamont said. “Everything we’re doing to keep you safe; the other 90 percent is up to you. I need folks to look out for each other.”

Lombardi also pointed out that Connecticut legalized marijuana in 2021, noting that people can purchase marijuana, use it, and drive off.

“We all see it,” Lombardi said, adding that she was nearly hit by someone driving to the press conference. “It’s the lack of empathy for situations such as this, it’s the lack of respect for fellow citizens and people are selfish; they’re just thinking of their own wants and needs.”

Connecticut Republican House Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, issued a press release following the press conference highlighting Connecticut’s legalized marijuana law, arguing that driving while high is contributing to increased accidents and fatalities on Connecticut roadways.

“I continue to contend that their decision to commercialize marijuana, and even preventing police from stopping motorists who are smoking it while driving, has contributed to this crisis,” Candelora said “Their retail cannabis market, along with their persistent push to make the jobs of police officers more difficult, has created a hazardous environment for citizens, law enforcement professionals who patrol our highways, and state employees who work diligently to maintain them.”

State Police Captain Ben Borelli said that his department is instituting DUI checks, particularly in problem areas , but also would welcome more staffing to help patrol highways. The Connecticut State Police have repeatedly indicated they are understaffed for more than a decade.

“With the staffing that we have we will always get the job done,” Borelli said. “We’re never going to say no to manpower. We need more personnel; we need more people on our team.”

“It’s no surprise that a high amount of crime is happening in small areas by the same people over and over, so we’re targeting those areas to lower fatal crashes,” Borelli said.

“We are one of the worst states in the nation for impaired driving. We are constantly in the top five, often in the top three in percentage of our fatalities causes by impaired driving,” Eucalitto said. “I don’t know what is driving it. It’s a public health issue, it’s a mental health issue. We need to address it that way. We also need to address how people are being served, where are they being served before they get behind the wheel.”

“Our hope is for something positive to come out of this tragedy, so no other family has to endure the pain and suffering that our family is feeling this week and forever.”

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