Case continued for driver accused of hitting 2 Connecticut State Police troopers on Interstate 91 in Enfield

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The case involving a driver accused of hitting two Connecticut State Police troopers on Interstate 91 in Enfield was continued Friday.

On July 11, Joel Alexander Caiza-Nishue was traveling in the left lane of I-91 when he drove through standing water and lost control, spinning across three lanes before hitting the back of one of the police vehicles that was parked on the shoulder.

The cruiser was pushed into Trooper Christopher Genovese’s vehicle, and Genovese, who was standing next to the cruiser at the time, was “forcefully thrown” about 50 feet.

State police said Genovese sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Sources told News 8 he broke his femur. Trooper Matthew Cerri was also taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, with state police confirming he suffered a concussion. He has since been released from the hospital.

Caiza-Nishue broke both of his legs, according to his public defender.

Video footage of the crash shows the Acura traveling “faster than the flow of traffic” before spinning out, according to the police report.

In a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, state police said Caiza-Nishue denied speeding at the time of the crash.

During an interview with troopers afterward, Caiza-Nishue said he was on his way to work after leaving his home in Waterbury. He said he saw the police on the highway from a distance and was driving about 65 mph when he encountered the puddle of water, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

Federal agents are seeking to arrest Caiza-Nishue, according to a senior official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who told News 8 that he is not a U.S. citizen and is from Ecuador, adding that he entered the U.S. in 2023.

“ICE has lodged a detainer for his arrest,” the official said in a statement.

Caiza-Nishue attended a virtual arraignment in July on charges of reckless driving, traveling too fast for conditions, operating a motor vehicle without a license, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

His bond was set at $20,000, and he was ordered not to operate motor vehicles while the case is pending.

The case was continued to Sept. 19.