Stamford Man Charged With DUI, Reckless Driving On Merritt Parkway: State Police

STAMFORD, CT — A 20-year-old Stamford man was arrested Monday after state police say he crashed his car after driving recklessly at high speeds and under the influence on the Merritt Parkway.

Connecticut State Troopers were dispatched to the northbound exit 35 ramp in Stamford at approximately 3:19 a.m. on Oct. 14 on a report of a single-car crash.

"Upon arrival, the investigating Trooper observed a white Dodge Challenger sedan with extensive damage to all sides of the vehicle, disabled and blocking the exit 35 ramp," state police said in a news release. "The Trooper then observed a male party in the shoulder, who was being treated by EMS personnel for injuries sustained in the accident. This person was identified as a passenger in the vehicle and was transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries."

A bystander at the scene, who was not involved in the crash, reported to police that the driver had fled the scene on foot, police said, and that the bystander "pleaded with the operator not to drive given his alleged state of intoxication."

The bystander contacted the driver by phone at the request of police, and the man complied and returned to the scene, police said.

The driver told police he had to leave the scene because he was drunk, police said. An investigating Trooper observed the odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his person, and police subsequently placed the man under arrest, police noted.

An on-scene investigation found numerous alcohol containers, both empty and unopened, within the vehicle, police said. Additionally, police said they found a small amount of suspected cocaine in the arrestee's wallet.

During an interview in a police cruiser, the arrestee explained that he spun out while driving at speeds in excess of 140 mph and he believed he struck the guardrail, police said.

The man also told police he believed he consumed about a 12-pack of beer, according to police.

At Troop G-Bridgeport, the arrestee failed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, and said he had used cocaine previously, police added.

The arrestee was charged with reckless driving; evading responsibility with injury; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; failure to maintain proper lane-limited access highway; and possession of a controlled substance.

The arrestee was later released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Nov. 15.