PLAINVILLE, CT — One year after Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed during a traffic stop on I-84, Connecticut continues to mourn his loss while honoring the courage of those who responded in the moments that followed.
On May 30, 2024, Geri-Lyn Dubay of Plainville witnessed the moment that changed lives across the state.
While driving on Interstate 84, she saw a red pickup truck driven by Alex Oyola-Sanchez swerve and strike Trooper Pelletier, who was conducting a routine traffic stop.
“I called 911 and immediately pulled up next to Alex Oyola-Sanchez in the red truck,” Dubay recalled. “I spoke to him briefly and realized at that moment that he was going to flee the scene.”
Without hesitation, Dubay followed the vehicle and provided dispatchers with real-time updates.
When the truck finally stopped several exits away, she urged other drivers who had pulled over to stay safe and keep moving.
“I believe I was in the right place at the right time,” she said.
Pelletier’s death sent shockwaves through the Connecticut State Police and communities statewide. In the year since, his service and sacrifice have been honored through memorials, legislation, and continued tributes.
