Driver Walked Into Woods After Wilton Crash, Charged With 3rd DUI: Police

WILTON, CT — A Wilton woman faces a third-offense driving under the influence charge after police said she struck a rock formation and left her heavily damaged vehicle along New Canaan Road.

Wilton police responded to the area of New Canaan Road and Old Boston Road around 7:55 p.m. Friday after receiving a report of a gray 2011 Jeep Liberty swerving across the roadway.

Police said a woman driving the Jeep and a male passenger pulled over near the intersection, got out of the vehicle, and walked into the tree line. Officers searched the area and located both people.

The driver, identified by police as 55-year-old Maria Arbizu-Lita of Wilton, showed signs of impairment, including glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, an odor of alcohol on her breath, and difficulty maintaining her balance, according to police.

Police said Arbizu-Lita did not perform standardized field sobriety tests to standard. Her Jeep was heavily damaged, and a witness told officers the vehicle had driven away after striking a rock formation, according to the report.

Arbizu-Lita later submitted to breath tests that showed blood alcohol concentrations of 0.2452 and 0.2310, police said.

She was arrested on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, third offense; operating with a suspended license; operating without insurance; operating an unregistered vehicle; evading responsibility with property damage; and failure to drive in the proper lane, according to police.

Arbizu-Lita posted a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Oct. 13 in Stamford Superior Court.