Woman Accused of Striking Bicyclists With Car In Farmington

FARMINGTON, CT — A New Britain woman was arrested Saturday in connection with an incident in which a pair of young bicyclists from Farmington were struck by a car which first hit a highway sign, then the boys before fleeing into East Hartford.

Cheryl Noad, 61, was charged with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, reckless driving, evading responsibility and failure to drive in proper lane. She was released after posting $10,000 bond.

At 4:13 p.m. Saturday, police received 911 calls regarding two bicyclists hit by a car on Fienemann Road near the New Britain town line. Many witnesses provided credible information to officers on scene identifying Noad's vehicle, a 2013 tan Nissan Altima, as the evading vehicle that left the scene, Lt. Timothy McKenzie said.

Officers determined Noad was traveling north on Fienemann Road when her car left the right side of the roadway and struck a highway sign and two youths on bicycles. She kept traveling north on Fienemann and headed onto I-84 eastbound with her windshield heavily damaged, McKenzie said.

A motorist traveling on I-84 eastbound called 911 to report the erratic operation by a vehicle with a smashed windshield, which matched the vehicle description given to officers by witnesses at the scene. Noad was stopped by state police in East Hartford and detained. Farmington police officers responded to the location to interview Noad, and she said she believed she struck a small tree. Officers determined she appeared intoxicated, and failed roadside sobriety tests, McKenzie said.

The two boys struck by Noad's vehicle, ages 12 and 13, were taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, ranging from lacerations to a serious leg fracture, according to McKenzie.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Stan Lada at the Farmington Police Department at 860-675-2400.