A 22-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police was killed in a serious crash on I-91 in Enfield Thursday.
Trooper First Class Kenneth Hall had just pulled a commercial vehicle over and was sitting in his cruiser when he was struck by a pickup truck, according to State Police Spokesman Lt. Paul Vance.
State Police said Hall was assigned to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Unit was celebrating the 22nd anniversary of his graduation from the Police Academy on Thursday.
The driver of the pickup truck was identified as Michael Pajak, 32 of Enfield. Pajak, and his passenger, Jenny Benvenuto, 33, of Windsor, were both critically injured in the crash.
Investigating the crash has been difficult for State Police. "A number of troopers have been assigned here to investigate the crash. Certainly there are friends of the trooper, family, support system that are here," Lt. Vance said.
Trooper Hall, of Hartford, is survived by his wife and children. A Facebook page has been created to remember Trooper Hall.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell ordered state flags lowered to half staff to honor Trooper Hall.
"This is a tragic loss for our state," Gov. Rell said. "It is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers our state police officers face each day. I ask the people of Connecticut to keep Trooper Hall and his family in their prayers."
