Shelton Officer Recovering

The Shelton police officer that was hit by an alleged drunk driver over the weekend is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Bridgeport Hospital. 

Sgt. Orville Smith, 64, suffered a fractured pelvis and required stitches in his left leg and his arm and fingers, according to Shelton Police Detective Ben Trabka. 

Smith, who has been on the Shelton Police Department for 39 years, is otherwise in good spirits, Trabka said.

“He seems to be doing better,” Trabka said. 

Smith was struck by a Nissan Frontier pick-up truck on July 3 at about 10:15 p.m., when he was directing traffic on Route 110 as part of a private duty job. 

The truck was driving by Bruce Knapik, 63, of Bridgeport, police said. 

Knapik was charged with driving under the influence and was released from custody Saturday evening, Trabka said. 

The accident is under investigation by the Trumbull Police Traffic Division Reconstruction Team with assistance from the Shelton Police Traffic Division Reconstruction Team.

Trabka said because of the injuries Smith sustained, more charges could be pending. 

According to police, Smith was at the intersection of Route 110 and Indian Well Road, standing next to his police car, which had its lights flashing. 

Knapik allegedly veered into the shoulder and hit Smith and the car. 

Knapik was not injured in the crash, police said. 

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