East Hartford Woman On Crack Crashes Car With Toddler On Board: Police

EAST HARTFORD, CT — A local woman involved in a crash Monday has been charged with driving while on crack on Interstate 84 in East Hartford with a 2-year-old child as a passenger.

Connecticut State Police Tuesday afternoon identified the woman as Elizabeth Burnham, 35, of East Hartford.

Police said she was charged Monday with illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; failure to drive a reasonable distance apart; use of drug paraphernalia; possession of a controlled substance; and risk of injury to a minor.

Burnham was released from custody on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Manchester Superior Court on March 17.

According to state police, on Monday at about 10:13 a.m., troopers from Troop H in Hartford were called to a two-car motor vehicle crash on the Exit 58 offramp from I-84 East in East Hartford.

" Upon arrival on the scene, troopers determined that the accident was a front-to-rear-end collision between the two vehicles and determined the at-fault operator failed to drive at a reasonable distance apart," wrote state police in a release on Tuesday.

The at-fault operator was identified as Burnham and police said she had one passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident, a 2-year-old child.

Burnham told troopers she was not able to stop in time and collided with the rear end of the vehicle ahead of her, police said.

No injuries were reported.

While speaking with Burnham, troopers began to observe signs of intoxication like slurred speech and delayed body movement, police said.

Burnham admitted to troopers at the scene she had used crack/cocaine prior to driving, police said.

As a result, police said Burnham was asked to undergo field sobriety testing. She agreed and, subsequently, failed, police said.

Burnham was taken into custody on-site and a search of her vehicle led to the discovery of suspected fentanyl, suspected crack/cocaine, and a glass pipe consistent with the use of crack/cocaine.

Police said the suspected narcotics and paraphernalia were seized as evidence and Burnham's vehicle was later towed.

A family member was contacted to take custody of the minor child and the state Department of Children and Families was advised of this incident.

Police said Burnham was transported to Troop H, where she was processed.

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