MONROE, CT — A Stratford woman was charged with DUI after allegedly causing a three-vehicle-crash on Main Street, including a head-on collision that hospitalized the other driver, and trying to evade the scene Tuesday night.
Katie Vegi, 50, of 1 65th Avenue in Stratford, was charged with DUI, failure to drive in the proper lane and evading responsibility. She was released after posting seven percent of her $500 bond for a court date in Bridgeport.
At approximately 8:48 p.m., police said Vegi was driving north on Route 25 in a 2012 Cadillac SRX when she drifted over the center line and into the southbound lane.
Her Cadillac sideswiped a 2021 Toyota RAV4 on its driver’s side and continued going the wrong way, before colliding head-on with a 2013 Toyota Prius that was traveling behind the RAV4, according to eye witness accounts.
Police said Vegi allegedly left the scene of the accident, but officers found her further up the road, her Cadillac disabled from heavy damage.
The driver of the Prius, a 60-year-old Bridgeport man, and his female passenger did not report injuries, but a 26-year-old Bridgeport man, who drove the RAV4, was treated for injuries by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel at the scene, then taken to Bridgeport Hospital.
Police said Vegi wasn’t sure what caused the crash and an officer smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. She reportedly told officers she had a margarita at 4 p.m. and was coming from a friend’s house.
She did not perform field sobriety tests to standard, leading to her arrest, police said. Later at police headquarters, Vegi’s blood alcohol level was about double the legal limit, according to the report.
One-vehicle crash
A 28-year-old Danbury man was heading south on Hattertown Road in his 2002 Honda CRV Monday morning, when he lost control of his vehicle on a left hand curve and went off the right side of the road, striking an embankment before the Honda came to final rest.
The driver, who was not hurt, reportedly told officers his vehicle started to skid when he drove downhill and he lost control of it. He was issued a warning for traveling too fast for conditions and his Honda was towed due to disabling damage.
Tree falls onto a Cadillac Escalade
A 48-year-old Fairfield woman and her juvenile passenger escaped injury when a tree fell onto the front of her 2017 Cadillac Escalade as she drove west on Route 59 Tuesday afternoon, heavily denting the hood and front bumper.
The incident occurred near the Easton town line around 3:49 p.m.
Avoiding a deer, hitting a utility pole
A 46-year-old Monroe woman told police she swerved to the right to avoid hitting a deer, while heading north on Elm Street in her 2019 BMW 330 on Nov. 8, before hitting a utility pole at the corner of Elm Street and Countryside Drive.
Officers responding to the accident at approximately 2:40 a.m. took no action against the driver, who did not report any injuries, but her car was towed due to disabling damage.
Evading charge
A 19-year-old Stratford man was issued a misdemeanor summons for evading responsibility and unsafe backing after allegedly backing his Toyota Camry into a 2024 Ford Ranger in the Tollgate Plaza parking lot and driving off as the owner of the truck yelled for him to stop.
The pickup truck had scuff marks and a dent, police said, adding the owner, a 69-year-old Monroe man, went inside Mr. Mac’s Canteen where people were familiar with the other driver.
The victim drove to PopUp Bagels on South Main Street in Newtown, where he found the Camry, took down the license plate number and called police.
Monroe officers drove to Newtown, where they met with the driver of the Toyota and observed the damage to the vehicle. The Stratford man admitted to leaving the scene of the accident, according to police. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 24.
Police Toy Drive
The Monroe Police Department is hosting its annual Toy Drive at Awesome Toys & Gifts, 464 Main St., this Saturday, Nov. 15, and on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The toy store is offering 20 percent discounts for donations bought there.
The drive will benefit families served by The Center for Family Justice, which offers free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
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