45°
The incident took place in Stratford around 1:05 a.m., Monday, Oct. 31 on I-95 southbound in the area of Exit 33.
According to state police, the trooper was driving southbound on I-95 in Stratford while the driver of the second vehicle, identified as Jose Lopez Ortiz, age 55, of Bridgeport, was reversing in a gray Nissan SUV and traveling north in the southbound right shoulder of the interstate.
The trooper was attempting to merge into the right shoulder, in order to assist with a collision south of Exit 32 and collided into Ortiz's vehicle, state police said.
Ortiz fled the scene but was stopped a short distance away, police added.
The trooper complained of back, neck and shoulder pain and he was transported to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment.
Lopez Ortiz was not injured and place under arrest.
He was charged with:- Reckless endangerment
- Evading responsibility
- Operating a vehicle without a license
- Unsafe backing
- Misuse of marker plates
- Failure to have insurance
Lopez Ortiz is being held on a $10,000 cash/surety/10 percent bond set by the duty supervisor and transported to the Bridgeport Correctional Center.
He is scheduled to appear in court later Monday.
Click here to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.
