Southington Police: Drunken Driver from Cheshire Snagged With Child in the Car

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Cheshire woman is accused of driving around Southington while drunk with a child passenger.

Police announced her arrest on Thursday.

On Aug. 5 at about 3:40 p.m. the Southington police received a report of an erratic operator on Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in the area of Meriden Avenue, according to a news release.

The caller told police a child could be inside the vehicle, according to a news release.

Officers located the vehicle and the witness on Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in the area of Tridell Drive. The witness reported the vehicle was swerving within the lane and it crossed the double yellow line several times and possibly even sideswiped a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, according to a news release.

Officers spoke with the operator, who was identified as Dianna Stapleton-St. Germaine, 49 of Cheshire, according to a news release.

Police said there was also a 5-year-old child in a safety seat in the rear of the vehicle.

The driver’s side mirror of the vehicle was moved inward, which supported the report that her vehicle and
another vehicle collided, according to a news release. The second vehicle was never located, police said.
Stapleton- St. Germaine failed a series of field sobriety tests, police said.

Stapleton- St. Germaine was taken into custody without incident and charged with driving under the influence, risk of injury to a minor and impairing the morals of a minor, police said.

Stapleton-St. Germaine was processed and released on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on Aug. 15, according to a news release.

Police said the child was not injured and was picked up by a neighbor.

Photo Credit: Mug shot furnished by Southington police