On Thursday, 01/23/25 at approximately 12:26 am, personnel from Troop K- Colchester were dispatched to the area of 426 West Main St (Route 66) in Hebron for a reported single vehicle accident into a utility pole. It was also reported that power lines were down as a result of this accident blocking the roadway.
Upon arrival on scene, Troopers observed a grey Ford Crown Victoria sedan had collided with a utility pole, which had snapped from the impact. Overhead wires were also observed in the roadway, preventing the safe passage of traffic. Troopers on scene advised Troop K Dispatch that the roadway was shut down and an expedited response from Eversource and CT DOT was requested.
Troopers located the operator of the Crown Victoria, who was positively identified as Gabriel Brown (DOB 04/27/98), of East Hampton. Brown explained to Troopers that he swerved to avoid striking a deer that ran into the roadway, and as a result he lost control and ran off the roadway to the left into the utility pole. Brown explained that he was not injured following the accident. While speaking with Brown, Troopers observed visible signs of impairment, to include the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.
Brown was requested to submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, to which he agreed. Brown failed to perform testing to standard and was subsequently arrested and transported for processing on the following charges:
CGS 14-227a; Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs
CGS 14-236; Failure to Maintain Proper Lane
Chemical testing administered during processing showed Brown's blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit. Brown was later released from custody on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on 02/03/25. Please see the attached criminal information summary.
This portion of Route 66 has remained closed since the time of the accident. Route 66 is anticipated to reopen by 4:00 PM.
