As death toll rises, leaders urge drivers to change dangerous habits

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) held a news conference Tuesday morning in Wallingford to advocate for road safety following the recent deaths of two state employees who were killed while on the job in separate incidents.

Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was killed in a hit-and-run on May 30 while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 84 in Southington. Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) worker Andrew DiDomenico was struck and killed on June 28 while performing routine maintenance on a greenway adjacent to an on and off-ramp connecting to Interstate 91 in Wallingford.

“Andrew had a profound impact on many and we are learning this week just how much and how far he reached,” his aunt, Melissa Lombardi, said Tuesday.

The CTDOT said there are roughly 1,500 workers out on the roads daily, working on hundreds of projects across the state.

David Ferraro has been on the job for 30 years and had a very close call with death.

“Today is a very difficult day for me, because I’m a struck-by survivor myself,” he said. “I was 26 years old in 1995 when I was struck by a drunk driver off I-95 in Greenwich. I was the lucky one, I survived.

Ferraro still has health issues due to being hit. The latest deaths, he said, make him angry.

“This is too much,” Ferraro said. “I’ve lost too many co-workers.”

According to data from CTDOT, there were three deaths, seven serious injuries and 930 work zone crashes in Connecticut in 2023. The year prior, there were three fatalities, eight serious injuries and 835 crashes.

When it comes to impaired driving fatalities, the most recent data shows there were 127 in 2022 and 117 in 2021.

CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said that since 2020, there has been a noticeable change in drivers’ behavior.

“They’re driving faster, they’re driving more aggressively, they’re driving more erratically, they’re driving more distracted, they’re driving more impaired…and nobody knows why,” he said.

While the state is working on preventative measures like implementing speed cameras in work zones and installing flashing wrong-way signs, Gov. Ned Lamont said drivers must do their part.

“How do I make sure that person that shouldn’t be driving isn’t driving? A friend does not let a friend drive drunk,” he said, stressing the need for drivers to put the distractions away, slow down and do not drive impaired.

The CTDOT said work zone speed cameras are expected to be permanently installed next year.

Meanwhile, the DiDomenico family said they’re advocating for stricter penalties for offenders and repeat offenders.

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

The governor was also asked about lowering the current blood alcohol level from 0.08% to 0.05%. He said while it is being considered, there are challenges as it is enforcing existing laws.

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