Driver Takes Car Onto Sidewalk, Passenger Bails Out, During Wild Scene In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A driver fled authorities along a stretch of sidewalk despite damaged tires, hit several cars and a passenger bailed out — all during a wild scene in Middletown, police said.

According to a news release, On Monday, members of the Middletown Police Street Crime Unit conducted a motor vehicle stop on Main Street near the intersection with Court Street.

Daniel Carpenter, 60, of Plainfield, pulled his vehicle into a parking stall on Main Street, according to a news release

As detectives approached Carpenter's vehicle on foot, he sped forward, over the curb onto the Main Street sidewalk and, in the process, several tires "popped" and the vehicle damaged "multiple" structures on the east sidewalk, according to a news release.

Carpenter then drove north on the sidewalk with "extreme indifference" to pedestrians before re-entering Main Street and fleeing the area, according to a news release

One passenger in the vehicle, who later said he feared for his life, jumped from it after a period of time, according to a news release.

Police said a second passenger was unable to exit.

A short time later, Cromwell Police located Carpenter's vehicle, which was finally disabled after traveling through several residential yards, according to a news release. Police said they later learned that Carpenter struck approximately seven occupied vehicles after he fled Middletown.

Carpenter had seven outstanding warrants for his arrest for failure to appear in court for previous incidents, records show.

In Middletown, he has been charged with multiple motor vehicle violations, along with evading responsibly, reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and unlawful restraint.

He is being held on bonds totaling $1 million after a Tuesday arraignment and is scheduled to appear again in court on Sept. 25, records show.