Man, 23, Drove Drunk Through Farmington Construction Zone: State Police

FARMINGTON, CT — A 23-year-old Plainville man will appear in court next week after state police accused him of driving drunk into a construction zone on Interstate 84 in Farmington last week.

According to Connecticut State Police, the suspect has been identified as Benjamin Sweezey, 23, of Plainville, who has been charged with disobeying the signal of an officer, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs in a construction zone, failure to maintain proper lane in a construction zone, and failure to slow down/move over for an emergency vehicle.

According to police, testing later conducted at Troop H in Hartford revealed Sweezey had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit.

Sweezey was released from custody on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at New Britain Superior Court Aug. 8.

State police said the incident happened on Wednesday, July 23, at about 12:55 a.m.

That's when, police said, a trooper assigned to Troop H was clearing a traffic stop along the right shoulder of I-84 West near exit 37 in Farmington.

"It was at this time that the trooper observed a Volkswagen sedan pass them in the right lane of three and had failed to slow down and move over," wrote state police in a report released Friday, July 25. "While the previously stopped motorist had left, the trooper still had their emergency lights activated at that time."

Police said the trooper deactivated the emergency lights and attempted to catch up with the observed Volkswagen sedan.

Upon approaching an active construction zone in the area of Exit 36, the trooper observed the operator failing to maintain their lane, wrote police.

"It was at this time that the trooper activated their emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, and the operator reduced speed but failed to stop," wrote state police.

"The operator continued to travel through the active construction zone, which had both the right and center lanes closed."

Police said, once through the construction pattern, the operator merged onto Route 72 west in Plainville and took Exit 4, ultimately coming to a stop past a four-way intersection.

Once stopped, the trooper made contact with the operator and identified the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from within the vehicle.

Police said the Trooper observed the operator exhibiting "clear signs of impairment, to include red glossy eyes."

The operator was identified as Sweezey.

According to police, Sweezey explained he did not want to stop on the highway due to speeding vehicles.

Sweezey then failed a sobriety test, police said, and he was arrested and transported to Troop H, where he was processed.

For more information on the case, click on this link.