Dashcam Video: Wrong-Way Driver Keeps Going after Hitting Conn. State Police Trooper's Cruiser

A 36-year-old woman accused of driving under the influence continued traveling the wrong way after crashing into a Connecticut State Police cruiser trying to block her path.

March 20, 2026

2 min read

What to know

A 36‑year‑old Oxford woman is accused of driving the wrong way on Route 8 early Wednesday and striking a Connecticut State Police cruiser that attempted to block her path, officials said.
Troopers stopped the Jeep Cherokee near Exit 34 in Watertown and reported that the driver, Cindy Martins, showed signs of impairment before failing field sobriety tests.
Martins was charged with OUI, reckless driving, evading responsibility and wrong‑way driving; she was released on a $10,000 bond and is due in court April 10.

By Josh LaBella

Source Connecticut Post, Bridgeport

THOMASTON, CT—An Oxford woman is accused of driving the wrong way on Route 8 while under the influence, hitting a police cruiser that tried to stop her and then fleeing the scene on Wednesday, police say.

Cindy Martins, 36, is charged with reckless driving, evading responsibility, operating under the influence and driving the wrong way on a divided highway, Connecticut State Police said in a news release Thursday.

Police said the incident began at 3:23 a.m. Wednesday, when troopers were called about a gray Jeep headed the south in the northbound lanes of Route 8 in Thomaston near Exit 38. They said the Jeep Cherokee Latitude struck a trooper's cruiser, failed to stop and evaded the scene, continuing to head south.

Video shared by state police from the cruiser's camera show the trooper approach the wrong-way vehicle on Route 8 with its flashing emergency lights on and position it to block both lanes. The wrong-way driver slowed down but kept going, hitting the cruiser on its driver's side.

Police said troopers were able to stop the vehicle near Exit 34 in Watertown, as it was still going the wrong way. They said the driver was identified as Martins, who they noticed to have glassy eyes, slurred speech and difficulty walking and standing.

Martins was taken into custody and performed standardized field sobriety tests at the Troop L barracks, which she failed. After being charged, they said, she was released on a $10,000 bond and scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Waterbury April 10.

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