Connecticut State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was killed on 5/30/24 in the line of duty when he was struck on Interstate I84 at approximately 2:36 pm and died at the scene.Trooper Pelletier was working an overtime shift. The driver who struck Trooper Pelletier left the scene. Trooper Pelletier was traveling in the left lane when he observed a driver in the right lane not wearing a seat belt. Trooper Pelletier pulled over the driver in the right lane and while talking to the operator of the vehicle a Chevrolet 1500 pick up truck driven by Alex Oyola- Sanchez, 44, went into the right lane striking Trooper Pelletier’s cruiser and then striking him. The right side wheels of the pick up were completely over the dividing line into the shoulder when he side swiped Trooper Pelletier’s cruiser and then struck Trooper Pelletier in the shoulder of the road while he was speaking with the operator of the vehicle not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the truck who struck Trooper Pelletier was later located and taken into police custody on I-84 in Farmington at exit 39A when a tire failed which is about 5 miles from the accident scene at exit 31A on I84 East in Southington. Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was a nine-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police and a member of the 125th Training Troop. He graduated from K9 Academy as part of the 223rd Patrol Dog Class in December 2021. His dog’s name was Roso and was retired from service and given to his family. He was married and leaves behind his wife Dominique and two young boys, Troy and Zachary. The family is asking that donations be made in Trooper Pelletiers memory to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, at 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 or to this GoFundMe page. K9 Roso was accepted into the Harlows Heroes program. K9 Roso has beeen accepted as the 8th foundation dog under Harlows Heroes, ensuring his legacy lives on as a symbol of dedication, bravery, and unwavering loyalty :Harlows Heroes will pay for all his care while he lives his days with the Pelletier family.
Alex Oyola- Sanchez is charged with second – degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility resulting in death. driving under the influence, and failing to drive in the proper lane, failure to renew registration, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, among several other charges in the death of Trooper Pelletier. Oyola-Sanchez told police he injected $20 worth of fentanyl and $20 worth of powdered cocaine earlier that morning and had purchased a pill, he believed to be Klonopin, from a drug dealer before the incident. Oyola-Sanchez bond was initially set at $5 million and he appeared in court on 5/31/24, where it was set at $1.5 million by Judge Maureen Keegan and his next court appearence is scheduled for 6/6/24. Oyola-Sanchez has a long criminal history in his native Puerto Rico – including third-degree murder in 2012, Bringing objects into a correctional facility for escape in 2008, 3 counts of attempted homicide in 2008, 3rd degree murder in 2007 as well as weapons and drug charges.Oyola-Sanchez, 45, pleaded guilty on 2/25/25 and faces 18 years in prison for the death of Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier. He will be sentenced on 4/29/25.
