Drunk driving accidents sadly claim hundreds of lives every year. The crashes usually involve a tragic storm of negligence, serious injury and medical expenses. This was especially true in the case of a Connecticut police officer who, in 2010, fatally injured a Windsor Locks teenager when he drove negligently in his community.
The driver, a former Windsor Locks police officer, pled no contest to a manslaughter charge on June 12 after the drunk driving accident. The officer, who was off duty at the time, had been drinking and was traveling at about 70 mph in a 35 mph zone when he hit a 15-year-old Windsor Locks high school sophomore. The teenager was riding his bike home from his friend’s house. It was approximately midnight at the time of the accident.
The driver was fired from his law enforcement position following the incident. His father, a Windsor Locks police sergeant, was terminated as well. According to the reports, the driver’s father was one of the officers who responded to the scene of the accident. The man drove his son to and from the accident three times while authorities responded to the injured boy. The father allegedly prevented law enforcement from questioning his son and from obtaining a blood sample.
Investigators say they found an open 30-pack of beer along with several other unopened containers in the driver’s car. A glass of beer was also found near the accident. Authorities speculate this was thrown from the car shortly after the crash.
In 2011, the fatally injured boy’s family settled a wrongful death suit with the driver and a tavern owner in the amount of $420,000.
Source: The Republic, “Fired Conn. officer pleads no contest in crash that killed teen, to serve 5 years,” Dave Collins, June 12, 2012
