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4mo ago

Driver Sentenced to 18 Years for Killing Connecticut State Trooper in Hit-and-Run

Alex Oyola-Sanchez pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and related charges for the 2024 death of Trooper Aaron Pelletier during a traffic stop.

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Alex Oyola-Sanchez, center, with his public defender Chris Eddy, right, and a Spanish interpreter during Oyola-Sanchez's sentencing at state Superior Court in New Britain, Conn., April 29, 2025. (Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)
This undated photo provided by the Connecticut State Police, shows Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier. Thousands of people including police officers from throughout the Northeast gathered for the funeral of Pelletier who was killed by a hit-and-run driver during a highway traffic stop last week. (Connecticut State Police via AP)
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Overview

  • Trooper Aaron Pelletier was fatally struck on Interstate 84 in Southington in May 2024 while conducting a traffic stop, and the driver fled the scene.
  • Alex Oyola-Sanchez, 45, admitted to using fentanyl, cocaine, and what he believed was Klonopin before the incident.
  • Oyola-Sanchez accepted a plea deal, receiving an 18-year prison sentence for second-degree manslaughter and other charges.
  • Pelletier’s widow, Dominique, testified in February, urging a longer sentence and describing the profound impact on their family, including their two young sons.
  • The case has drawn significant community support, with memorial events and local initiatives honoring Pelletier’s legacy.