CT driver hit by water then pepper sprays passenger in another car during road rage incident
Two men are facing charges for a road rage incident that took place on Route 8 in Litchfield last week, state police said.
Troopers assigned to Troop L in Litchfield responded to Route 8 North in the area of Exit 41 around 12:09 p.m. on May 3 for a reported disturbance, according to the Connecticut State Police.
The caller said an altercation occurred in the middle of the highway involving the driver of a Ford Explorer who allegedly pepper sprayed an individual in a second vehicle. The caller provided the Massachusetts registration plate of the Explorer, state police said.
A responding trooper located the reported Explorer traveling on Route 8 North just north of Exit 42, according to state police. The trooper initiated a motor vehicle stop and the driver was identified as 48-year-old Howard Vazquez of Torrington.
“Based upon the nature of the allegations and in the interest of safety, Vazquez was detained in handcuffs during the on-scene investigation,” state police said.
Vazquez told troopers he was driving on Route 8 North near Exit 37 when he allegedly saw a vehicle, later identified as a Chevy Impala, driving erratically and making frequent lane changes. According to state police, Vazquez said he activated his vehicle’s hazard lights and a yellow flashing light, drove alongside the Impala and yelled at the other driver to slow down.
Vazquez alleged that the front seat passenger of the Impala threw water at him, state police said. Vazquez told troopers he pulled in front of the Impala and stopped in the left lane. As he exited the Explorer, he claimed that he was confronted by the front seat passenger who allegedly struck him in the face. In response, Velazquez said he pepper sprayed the passenger and continued driving northbound on Route 8, according to state police.
According to state police, Vazquez’s shirt and pants appeared to be damp. Additionally, troopers allegedly recovered a pepper spray device that was later processed as evidence in the investigation.
Troopers then met with the driver of the Impala and his passenger, identified as 25-year-old Jordan Millette of Waterbury, at a separate location. Both the driver and Millette alleged that the Explorer was driving erratically, intentionally braking quickly as well as blocking the Impala from passing, state police said. Millette allegedly admitted to throwing water at the Explorer, which hit the driver, according to state police.
Both the Impala driver and Millette told troopers that while stopped in the left lane, the driver of the Explorer alleged got out of his vehicle, approached the Impala and pepper sprayed both the driver and Millette before returning to his vehicle and fleeing the scene.
Millette also allegedly told troopers he attempted to swing at the driver of the Explorer but due to his eyes being irritated, he was unsure if he made contact, state police said.
Harwinton EMS evaluate Millette, who declined to be transported to an area hospital, according to state police. Based on the information gather during the investigation, both Vazquez and Millette were placed under arrest, state police said.
Millette was charged with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault.
Vazquez was booked on charges of second-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
Vazquez and Millette were later both released on $2,500 cash/surety bonds and are scheduled for arraignment on May 17 at Torrington Superior Court, according to state police.