Crime & Safety
Teacher from Mansfield Remains in Custody on DUI Charge
School officials cannot explain how the life skills teacher passed a background check to be hired by the Columbia school district.

The school teacher from Mansfield who is facing driving under the influence charges following a daytime two-crash that injured two people in Willimantic remains in custody.
And a school official in the Columbia school district where she was hired as a part-time life skills teacher reportedly canβt explain how the Jessica Duers, 44, passed a background check even though she has three previous DUI convictions, according to WTIC.
Duers was arraigned in state Superior Court in Danielson on Thursday on charges of driving under the influence, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and failure to yield right of way, according to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. She remains in custody in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Duers was arrested following the crash near the McDonalds on Route 32 in Willimantic on Wednesday afternoon that seriously injured a 78-year-old pedestrian and a passenger in another car Duers allegedly hit.
The WTIC report can be found here.
Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Photo from WTIC: Jessica Duers at her arraignment Dec. 4, 2014.
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