DUI Woman Hit 2 Pedestrians, Six Cars While Leaving Oakdale Theater: Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — Shelby Coughlin, 25, of Milford, is accused of being under the influence of alcohol when she hit two people and six cars while leaving the Rick Ross concert at the Toyota Oakdale Theater, police said.

A total of four people were hospitalized, the two pedestrians struck, one person who was inside a vehicle and a police officer, police said.

The incident occurred at 11:30 p.m. Friday as Coughlin was trying to exit the venue, police said. Police said Coughlin struck a pedestrian in the parking lot and attempted to leave the scene.

"Coughlin continued driving, striking another pedestrian that was attempting to make Coughlin stop her vehicle after she struck the first pedestrian. Coughlin again continued driving her vehicle. As officer attempted to get Coughlin to stop her vehicle she continued driving at a high rate of speed striking a total of six vehicles," police said.

Wallingford Police Officers on scene were part of a security detail working the Rick Ross concert at the Oakdale. The officers on scene were running alongside Coughlin’s vehicle and were able to break the vehicle’s window and bring the vehicle to a stop, police said.

Coughlin was removed from the vehicle at which point she became combative with the officers on scene and was resisting arrest, police said. While placing Coughlin into the police cruiser she bit an officer causing a minor injury, police said. During transport to the police department Coughlin repeatedly kicked inside damaging the police cruiser’s rear door and attached speed radar unit, police said.

Both pedestrians, one officer and one of the struck vehicle occupants were transported to the hospital for reported minor injuries, police said.

Coughlin was arrested and currently being held at the Wallingford Police Department on a $5,000 bond. Coughlin was charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Evading Responsibility, Reckless Driving, Disobeying an Officer’s Signal, Criminal Attempt Assault 2nd Degree with a Motor Vehicle, Assault on a Police Officer, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, and Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree.