Man charged with driving under the influence after striking a state police cruiser in Westbrook, troopers say

WESTBROOK, CT (WFSB) – A man is charged with operating while intoxicated after state police say he struck one of their cruisers on Interstate 95 in Westbrook.

They identified the driver as Alvaro Partillo, 32, of New London.

Alvaro Partillo was arrested for driving under the influence after hitting a state police cruiser on I-95... — According to state police, Alvaro Partillo was arrested for driving under the influence after he struck a state police cruiser on I-95 in Westbrook on Nov. 6, 2024.(Connecticut State Police)

Troopers said they were conducting traffic enforcement in the area of I-95 north between exits 65 and 66 in Westbrook on Wednesday around 8 p.m.

An officer conducted a traffic stop on a driver.

As the officer came to a stop and onto the right shoulder of the highway, a separate driver failed to slow down and drove over. He struck the rear of the cruiser, state police said.

The trooper was in the front driver’s seat of the cruiser and suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash. The soldier was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The driver of that separate vehicle was identified as Partillo.

State police said Partillo failed a standardized field sobriety test after they determined he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

He was charged with illegally operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, following too closely, failure to slow down/drive and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Partillo’s bond was set at $15,000.

He was scheduled to appear in court Thursday in Middletown.