Trooper James H. Savage

CT trooper killed 34 years ago on way home from work while helping driver

Posted on January 22, 2020 CT POST

On the 34th anniversary of the death of Connecticut State Police Trooper James Savage, the agency took some time to remember the fallen officer.

Savage was hit and killed by a driver on Route 8 in Watertown on Jan. 22, 1986.

The 42-year-old trooper had just wrapped up a day with the agency’s traffic squad and was headed home when he stopped to help a driver. He was only 15 minutes from home.

As Savage walked up to the car, a salesman driving on Route 8 was traveling in Savage’s direction.

State police said the salesman looked over at some paperwork on the passenger front seat of his car, causing his car to drift toward the shoulder as the road took a slight curve.

Savage was struck by the driver from behind. Savage died at the scene.

He started the academy in February 1968 and would later be assigned to Troop L in Litchfield. From there, he was transferred to Troop H in Hartford in December 1971.

On the anniversary of his death last year, state police said Savage’s career “revolved around traffic enforcement.”

“Your service to this department and this great state will never be forgotten,” state police said in 2019.

Retired Police Officer
NYPD

January 22, 2020