CT Officer Killed, Another Injured When Cruisers Collide
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EW HAVEN, Conn. -- A police sergeant is dead and another was critically injured after their cruisers collided Tuesday night while responding to a call.
At 11:23 p.m. Tuesday, Sgt. Dario Aponte, 43, and patrol Officer Diane Gonzalez, 47, were responding to a 911 call reporting a domestic situation between a couple on Maltby Street when their two cruisers collided head-on at Chapel and East streets and then hit a third car, police said.
Both cruisers went airborne. Aponte was partially ejected from his vehicle and was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police said it took half an hour to extricate Gonzales from her car. She's at Yale NH hospital in very critical condition.
Aponte was a 17-year veteran of the force. He was a father of five and his youngest child is 4 months old, officials said. He was also a grandfather. He was promoted to sergeant in July. His wife is also a police officer with the department.
Aponte’s family asks that he be remembered as a fun-loving person who particularly enjoyed his time as a mounted officer.
Gonzales is a 13-year veteran, a mother of three and a grandmother, officials said.
The mayor and police held a news conference held Wednesday morning to discuss the crash.
"When you spend the evening with the family, it's hard. It’s like losing a family member," Chief James Lewis said.
“This is a terrible blow for the New Haven Police Department,” said Sgt. Louis Cavalier, the union president. ”Last night, Dario paid the ultimate price.”
During the news conference, officials played the 911 tape, a call from a neighbor of the home to which police were responding.
Police said the woman involved in what was reported as a domestic situation was not injured and was uncooperative with police. No arrests were made.
Officials said they would be investigating the crash to determine who had the right of way.
New Haven police have put up black bunting at headquarters in memory of the fallen officer.
State police are handling the crash investigation, which is expected to take months.
The last New Haven police officer to die in the line of duty was officer Dan Picagli, 38,
Picagli was directing traffic at a construction site on Oct. 21, 2006 when he was struck and killed by a SUV.
In March of last year, the driver who hit the 17-year veteran of the force was cleared of any wrongdoing.
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