State Police: Driver Was Drunk At Dismissal At Tolland School

TOLLAND, CT — A car accident during dismissal time at a Tolland school last week led to a 56-year-old woman being charged with drunken driving, state police said.

According to state police reports and school system officials, the crash took place at 3:34 p.m. Thursday at Birch Grove Primary School, which serves students up to the second grade. In a letter sent home to parents, Tolland Superintendent of Schools Walter Willett was quick to say no one was hurt and credited quick staff intervention for keeping it that way.

Students were already on the buses when a 2007 Honda Accord pulled into the parking lot and then into the pick-up loop at Birch Grove, the school letter and state police reports indicate.

The Honda then rolled back and crashed into a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban that was in line behind it, according to a state police report.

The driver was approached by school administrators and members of the nursing staff and she claimed to have a medical condition, according to state police reports. School staffers suspected that the driver was intoxicated, however, Willett said. State police reports indicated no medical conditions were detected.

According to a state police report, state police were called and she then failed a field sobriety test and was arrested. The woman was charged with driving under the influence and risk of injury to a child, according to a state police report.

Reports did not mention how many children were associated with the respective vehicles.

"Safety is a priority for the Tolland Public School staff, and all students and staff are safe. My sincere thanks to the school and public safety staff for their help resolving this situation," Willett said in the letter to parents.