Man Charged With DUI In I-95 Crash In Groton, State Police Say

GROTON, CT — A New London man is facing drunk-driving charges following a crash on I-95 in February, according to state police.

The accident occurred on I-95 southbound south of exit 88 in Groton on the evening of Feb. 3.

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A Chevrolet Malibu was driving in the right lane struck a Toyota Corolla, which was parked in the right lane.

The Malibu's driver was going 70 mph. He said he had been looking left, and when he spotted the Toyota parked in the right lane, he slammed on the brakes but couldn't stop before colliding with the car.

When troopers arrived at the scene of the crash, they found that Julio Osario Santos, 51, of New London, was lying in the road.

Osario Santos did not have any ID. A passerby stopped to help with translation as Osario Santos did not speak any English, but "had a difficult time trying to obtain information from (Osario Santos) as he appeared intoxicated and had a hard time focusing on questions being asked," according to an arrest warrant.

Police said they found six empty beer bottles in the Toyota.

Osario Santos and a passenger were taken to a local hospital.

At the time of the accident, Osario Santos had a blood-alcohol content of .26, state police said. He also had his driver's license permanently suspended in 2023.

Osario Santos was charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, operating a motor vehicle under suspension, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, improper parking/highway hazard, and negligent use of highway by a pedestrian.

Osario-Santos was held on $25,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Tuesday.