Woman, 66, Caused Wrong-Way Crash On I-84 In East Hartford: Police

EAST HARTFORD, CT — A local woman has been charged in connection with a wrong-way collision Saturday on Interstate 84 in East Hartford early Saturday morning.

According to Connecticut State Police, Constance Leggett, 65, of East Hartford, was charged with reckless driving; evading responsibility for property damage; illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; driving the wrong way on a divided highway, improper parking; and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Police said Leggett was later released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Manchester Superior Court on Nov. 8.

State police said, that on Saturday, Oct. 26, at about 2 a.m., staff from the Troop H barracks in Hartford were called to I-84 West near Exit 48 in Hartford for a reported wrong-way driver.

Police said the wrong way driver was reportedly traveling eastbound in the westbound travel lanes.

While en route, Troop H dispatch updated responding Troopers that the wrong-way vehicle had collided head-on with a tractor-trailer unit and the wrong-way driver was attempting to flee the scene, police said.

Upon arrival, the operator of the tractor-trailer reported no injuries and the wrong-way vehicle was no longer on scene, wrote state police in a release Monday.

Shortly thereafter, Troopers located the wrong-way vehicle in the left lane near the Exit 54 off-ramp.

The vehicle, police said, was still facing in the wrong direction and had become disabled as a result of the accident with the tractor-trailer.

The operator of the vehicle was positively identified as Leggett and she reported no injuries as a result of the accident, according to police.

While speaking with Leggett, troopers observed Leggett was exhibiting signs of impairment, such as the odor of alcoholic beverages, police said.

Leggett admitted she had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages before driving, and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing was administered, police said.

According to state police, Leggett failed to perform testing to standard and was subsequently charged without incident.

Leggett was transported to Troop H, where she was processed.