Man Accused Of Driving 120 MPH On Route 8 In Naugatuck: State Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — A Bristol man accused of driving at 120 miles per hour and nearly causing accidents on Route 8 in Naugatuck was arrested Tuesday morning, according to state police.

In an arrest report, state police said they were conducting speed enforcement on Route 8 southbound in Naugatuck around 9 a.m. when a trooper noticed a black BMW driving erratically at a high rate of speed.

According to state police, the BMW followed vehicles closely at an unsafe distance, passed on the right and made several unsafe lane changes that almost resulted in accidents.

At one point, the trooper determined the BMW was traveling at 120 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to state police.

The trooper was able to catch up to the BMW as it exited Route 8 at exit 24 and stopped the vehicle on N Main Street in Beacon Falls, state police said.

The trooper spoke with the driver, Jean Edgardo Rivera, 24, of Bristol, who apologized and said he does not normally speed, according to state police.

Rivera was arrested and charged with reckless driving, following too closely, failure to maintain lane and passing on the right.

He was released on a $1,200 bond and is scheduled to appear in court next month, according to state police.