Police: Man allegedly steals tractor-trailer, hits 10 cars on I-95

NEW HAVEN — A New Haven man allegedly carjacked a tractor-trailer Tuesday, crashing into 10 cars on Interstate 95 before allegedly fighting with officials until he was taken into custody, according to Connecticut State Police.

State police said they received multiple calls about a pedestrian running across the southbound lanes of I-95 near Exit 46 in New Haven around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The pedestrian, later identified as Frank MontesRivera, 50, of New Haven, allegedly assaulted a tractor-trailer operator, hitting him multiple times with a metal thermos and pushed him out and onto the highway, according to state police.

Montes-Rivera then allegedly drove the tractortrailer, striking 10 cars in traffic before stopping against a metal beam guardrail off the right shoulder, police said.

A state trooper came on the scene and approached Montes-Rivera from the passenger side of the trailer, police said. MontesRivera allegedly lunged at the trooper, and the trooper in return used his Taser, police said. Montes-Rivera was removed from the driver’s side and onto the highway, police said.

A state’s attorney inspector came to help the trooper. Montes-Rivera then started to fight the inspector and trooper as they tried to take him into custody, according to police.

Montes-Rivera allegedly attempted to disarm the inspector by breaking his gun holster, police said.

The inspector then took Montes-Rivera’s hand from his firearm, police said.

The inspector and the driver of the tractor-trailer had minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital. Montes-Rivera was also taken to a local hospital, police said.

State police said none of the drivers or passengers in the 10 cars hit by MontesRivera were injured or taken to the hospital.

Montes-Rivera is charged with robbery by carjacking, interfering with an officer, assault on a public safety officer, second-degree breach of peace, disorderly conduct, second-degree assault, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to police.

Montes-Rivera is being held on a $100,000 bond and appeared in court Wednesday morning, police said.

While the crash was cleared Tuesday, the three right lanes of the highway were shut down near exits 44 and 46 on the southbound side. Traffic was backed up for about two miles, from Exit 46 for

Long Wharf Drive to Exit

51, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The lanes reopened around 7:51 p.m. Tuesday, according to the DOT.