Pizza Patrons Stop Suspected Drunken Driver With Kids In Car: PD

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Alert restaurant patrons grabbed the keys out of a car to prevent a suspected drunken driver from leaving the premises with children in the vehicle, police said.

At 8:48 p.m. Sunday, Southington Police received a call from Spartan's II on Meriden Waterbury Road reporting a motor vehicle accident in the parking lot. Police said witnesses said the drier was attempting to leave the scene. It was also reported there were three children in the vehicle, police said.

The driver, identified as Colleen Herrera, was located by officers in the parking lot.

Herrera showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and was placed under arrest, police said.

According to witnesses, Herrera had ordered food and sat at a booth to wait while consuming two glasses of wine, according to a police report. After finishing the wine, she went outside and was standing by her vehicle, in which her young child had been left inside for 10 to 20 minutes, according to a report.

Witnesses reported that, after food was brought to her vehicle, Herrera was acting confused, so they called a hired car to take her and the children home.

Before the car could arrive, Herrera entered her vehicle and began to back up, nearly running over customers who were attempting to stop her, according to a report.

Herrera then backed into a vehicle and customers were able to reach into the car to get the keys out of the ignition, a report says.

Police said Herrera was uncooperative throughout the entire process.

She was charged with driving under the influence, evading, unsafe backing, three counts of risk of injury to a child, and three counts of second-degree reckless endangerment.

Herrera was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is expected to appear at New Britain Superior Court on Oct. 4.