Man says driver who fatally hit Trooper Pelletier didn’t have permission to drive car

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The father of the Hartford man whose vehicle was involved in the fatal crash of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier spoke out about what led up the incident.

Alex Oyola-Sanchez was allegedly behind the wheel of the truck that hit the officer, participating in a “hit-and-run,” and was later arrested by police. The truck, however, did not belong to Sanchez: it belonged to Anibal Rivera, who’s father spoke to News 8 about the series of events leading up to the crash.

Anibal Rivera was letting Sanchez stay inside the truck because he had nowhere else to go. The elder Rivera said that Sanchez was told not to drive the truck, but he did anyway, resulting in the crash that killed Pelletier.

Why give the keys to Sanchez if he wasn’t supposed to drive the vehicle? Rivera said his son had given Sanchez the key so that he could turn the heat on if he got cold.

Rivera claims in his police report that he went to the scene of the accident after someone told him they saw his truck there. Hoping to get his truck back, Rivera was allegedly turned away by officers, as the vehicle was a part of an active criminal investigation.

State police said their investigation is active and ongoing. Rivera is not facing any charges at this time. Rivera extended his apologies from himself and his son for what happened to Trooper Pelletier.

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