Cop Hurt In Crash With Wrong-Way Driver On Cell In Mystic On New Year's Eve: Police

GROTON, CT — A Groton police officer was hurt on New Year's Eve after the cruiser they were in was struck by a vehicle driven by a wrong-way driver who was under the influence of alcohol and on her cell phone, the department said.

The officer was traveling northbound on School Street in the Mystic section of Groton, after conducting an unrelated motor vehicle stop just before 7 p.m. and stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Noank Road, when their cruiser was struck on the passenger side by a 2016 Jeep Compass, which was traveling the wrong way on the eastbound shoulder and sidewalk of the roadway, according to police.

The driver was identified as a 25-year-old woman from Waterford, and an initial investigation determined she was traveling westbound, off the eastbound travel lane, while on her cellphone, police said, adding that her Jeep struck the front passenger side of the police cruiser while it was stopped on School Street.

The officer was taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, but the woman was not injured, police said.

Both vehicles ended up being towed from the scene, according to police.

The woman was taken to police headquarters after she failed to complete the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to standard, and her breath samples were over .20, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 BAC., police said.

She was charged with operating under the influence, failing to maintain lane, operating a motor vehicle while using a cell phone, operating a motor vehicle on a sidewalk, and reckless driving.

At the time of the news release from police, she was being held on a cash/surety bond, the department said.

In addition to the police, the Mystic Fire Department and Mystic River Ambulance also responded to the crash.

The crash remains under investigation, police said.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call 860-441-6712.