DUI Suspect Tries to Escape Conn. Police, Crashes into Station's Gate

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — A suspected drunken driver who was trying to flee officers Monday apparently accidentally drove to the police station — smashing into its gate, police said.

He got away again, at least for now, they said.

The male driver heavily damaged the gate but was not injured and sped off, Lt. Mark Cleverdon said Tuesday. Police were continuing to look for him and the damaged car, a BMW 3 Series.

According to Cleverdon, the incident started around 4 a.m. with the discovery of a BMW sitting in the intersection of Miller and Abbe roads, about a mile-and-a-half from the South Windsor Police Department. The driver appeared to be passed out, he said; there was an open beer in the cupholder.

The officer waited for backup, and when the two officers approached the driver, he was "initially cooperative, then decided not to be and took off," Cleverdon said.

The car sped toward the intersection of Miller and Nevers roads, but police didn't know which way the driver went on Nevers, Cleverdon said. It turned out the driver had taken a left toward the police station, which sits at the bottom of Nevers on Sand Hill Road.

An officer saw him speed by, but wasn't able to stop him from smashing into the heavy-duty gate, causing what Cleverdon called "significant damage."

Cleverdon said the suspect may have thought Nevers Road continues after crossing Sand Hill. But the road stops at Nevers; the only thing at the top of the T-shaped intersection is the police station driveway.

"It wasn't intentional by any means," Cleverdon said. "That driveway is directly across from the intersection."

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