CONNECTICUT OFFICER STRUCK WHILE DIRECTING TRAFFIC

A police officer was struck while directing traffic outside of a school in Naugatuck. The officer struck in Naugatuck was hit on Route 86 between Golden Hill Road and Eagle Street.

"When I saw him he was standing next to his car, he was not in the road," Scott Childs. "There wasn't much traffic, they were working on the telephone poll, so it must have been right after that." Minutes later Childs knew something was wrong -- he heard sirens and saw police. They were headed to the school where a Naugatuck officer had been hit by a car.

The unidentified officer, a veteran of 20 years, was taken to St. Mary's Hospital. He was alert and talking, but did suffer several fractures.

Police say the woman was driving down prospect street, when she came around the corner and passed the school -- that's where she struck the police officer. Right now, they say it's under investigation. The driver has not been arrested, but police say they have ruled out speed at this point in the investigation.

"We need a street light here to warn people that this is a bad area," Debby Childs said. "You can't see around the corner. People come flying around the corner and if traffic is stopped here at all -- it's just cause for an accident." The regional reconstruction team worked the scene, trying to put the pieces of the accident back together. People who live near the area are not surprised to see the flashing lights and hear the sirens responding to an accident on prospect.

"Five years ago there was a crossing guard hit in front of the school and seriously injured," Debby Childs said. "Because the speed limit is 25 and nobody follows the speed limit. It was in the exact same spot, but down at the other end of the driveway right there where he was hit."