Truck Driver Rescued After Collision With Stolen Vehicle In Chesterfield

By Dirk Langeveld and Jayne Keedle

Three police officers are being credited with saving a man's life after his truck was thrown into a Chesterfield pond following a collision with a stolen vehicle this afternoon.

Capt. Thomas Garbedian of the Connecticut State Police said two troopers and East Lyme Police Officer Lindsay Cutillo were able to rescue the driver of an Osterman Propane truck after it plunged into the water. The accident occurred at the intersection of Route 85 and Route 161.  

The Theft, The Chase, The Rescue, The Arrest

Police say the stolen vehicle, a 2005 Chevy Silverado registered to a resident of Old Lyme, was taken from Sam's Gas Station at the intersection of Route 1 and Elm Street in Old Saybrook at around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

An Old Lyme Police Officer spotted the truck on I-95 northbound by the Baldwin Bridge and attempted to pull the driver over. The driver refused to stop and instead, engaged Old Lyme Police and State Police from Troop F in pursuit, leaving the highway at exit 73 and heading northbound on Route 161.

The driver of the stolen vehicle eluded police a number of times during the chase, but State Police from Troop E and East Lyme Police picked up the trail when the vehicle entered their coverage area. The chase ended when the stolen vehicle crashed into the propane truck on Route 85 in Chesterfield. 

Garbedian said officers were able to cut the propane truck driver's seat belt to free him. The two officers credited with the rescue are State Trooper Tim Bentley from Troop E and East Lyme Police Officer Cutillo, who was recently named East Lyme's officer of the year. 

“They believe that they basically saved the propane truck driver’s life by getting him out of the water,” he said.

The driver was taken by Life Star to Hartford Hospital. The two occupants of the stolen vehicle were arrested and taken to Backus Hospital. The driver suspected of stealing the vehicle is described as a 31-year-old white male from Old Saybrook. 

The roadways were closed and traffic detoured until accident reconstruction personnel had processed the scene.