DUI Tractor-Trailer Driver Charged In Crash That Closed I-91: PD

WALLINGFORD, CT — The driver of a tractor-trailer faces DUI and other charges in connection with a crash that closed a portion of I-91 North for several hours on Wednesday night, according to Connecticut State Police.

The crash happened around 7 p.m. on I-91 North near Exit 13 in Wallingford.

Dennis Goncalves Medeiros, 46, of New Haven, was driving a flat-bed tractor trailer on I-91 North before Exit 13 when the tractor-trailer began to swerve across all three lanes, according to police.

Police said the tractor-trailer first hit a metal guard rail that was adjacent to the left median, which resulted in the tractor-trailer losing a left rear tire. The tractor-trailer then swerved across all three lanes and struck the wire-rope guard rail adjacent to the right shoulder of the roadway, according to police.

As a result of the collisions, metal beams that were being transported on the flat-bed of the tractor-trailer fell onto the highway, police said.

I-91 North was shut down for about two hours and caused significant traffic delays while the metal debris was cleared from the highway, police said.

Medeiros and his juvenile passenger reported no injuries.

Police said Medeiros failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.

Medeiros was charged with risk of injury to a child, first-degree reckless endangerment, operating under the influence and failure to maintain lane. He was released after posting a $1,500 bond with a court date of Nov. 5.