A woman was charged with DUI and other offenses after leading troopers on a pursuit on Interstate 395 in Norwich on Sunday night that ended when state police were able to box her in on the highway.
A trooper first spotted the motorist driving erratically shortly after 10:30 p.m. in a Volvo XC90 on I-395 North, according to Connecticut State Police.
The trooper caught up to the vehicle and alleged that the driver was going more than 88 mph in a 65 mph zone, state police said. The trooper also alleged that the vehicle was swerving between both lanes as well as the left and right shoulders and tailgating another motorist, according to state police.
State police said the trooper activated the cruiser’s lights and sirens to pull the driver over, but she continued driving, allegedly fluctuating speeds between 50 and 80 mph. The trooper continued following at a “safe distance” based on the risk the driver posed to the public, according to state police.
Another trooper simultaneously worked to manage traffic from behind to prevent any possible incidents with the Volvo driver. A third trooper positioned themselves up ahead and deployed a tire deflation device after receiving approval from a supervisor, but the Volvo driver was able to avoid it, state police said.
State police said troopers then used a “box-in” maneuver with one trooper in front of the vehicle and another behind, which allowed them to force the driver to slow down and stop.
The driver, identified as 44-year-old Carly Armstrong of Norwich, allegedly refused to get out of the vehicle and had to be “assisted” out, according to state police. She allegedly smelled of alcohol, slurred her words and had glossy eyes, state police said. Troopers also found that the Volvo was unregistered and did not have minimum insurance coverage.
Armstrong was taken to Troop E in Montville where she took multiple field sobriety tests, allegedly failing them, state police said. A breathalyzer allegedly showed that her blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit, according to state police.
Armstrong was charged with reckless driving, speeding, operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating a vehicle without minimum insurance, engaging police in pursuit, failure to drive in the proper lane and following too closely.
She was held on a $2,500 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Norwich Superior Court.
