Mansfield Man Facing 3rd DUI Charge Following Wild Crash In Pomfret: Warrant

POMFRET, CT — A Mansfield man's arrest in connection with a harrowing crash last fall in Pomfret marks his third instance of drunken driving, state police said. He is now in custody on a high bond, judicial system records show.

On July 30, state police from the Troop C barracks located Micah MacNaughton, 42, and arrested him on the strength of an active warrant in connection with a crash that occurred in October on Route 244 in Pomfret, a report indicates.

MacNaughton was turned over to the custody of Troop D and charged with:

• Operating or parking an unregistered motor vehicle
• Misuse of a registration plate
• Illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance
• Illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension for alcohol
• Driving at too slow a speed
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence
• Avoidance of an interlock ignition device (third offense)
• Improper acceleration while being passed
• Failure to maintain the proper lane
• Reckless endangerment in the second degree

MacNaughton was initially held on a $75,000 bond, but that was increased to $250,000 at his arraignment, judicial system records show. He remained in custody Tuesday with a second court appearance scheduled for Sept. 10, records show.

The crash took place at on Oct. 1 at 6:18 p.m. on Route 244 in Pomfret, according to a warrant.

Responders encountered a gray 2009 Mazda Mazda3i with extensive damage to the front end, side and roof that indicated a rollover, according to a warrant. The plate on the Mazda was assigned to a 1997 Ford Ranger, which apparently replaced the canceled registration of the Mazda, which was also uninsured, according to a warrant.

Inside the Mazda was the driver, later identified as MacNaughton, who was seated in the driver's seat and being tended to by EMS personnel, according to a warrant. When questioned by police, MacNaughton exhibited slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and kept changing his destination, according to a warrant.

He was eventually transported to an area hospital, according to a warrant.

A 2011 Hyundai Tuscon was also involved in the accident on the westbound side of the road, state police said. The Tucson had sustained heavy damage to its front end and passenger side ands was missing a wheel, according to a warrant.

The driver of the Tuscon said she was on Route 244 just west of the intersection with Route 97, behind the Mazda, which was doing just 15 to 20 mph, according to a warrant. The driver said when she attempted to pass the Mazda, it sped up to the speed of the Tuscon and then sideswiped it, according to a warrant.

The Tuscon then hit a curb and lost a wheel, according to a warrant. The driver was transported to an area hospital for evaluation, according to a warrant.

The Mazda spun out of control, struck a utility pole on the westbound roadside and then rolled over
twice, according to a warrant. The pole was "destroyed" and electricity service was interrupted in the area, according to a warrant.

Because MacNaughton was receiving "life-saving care" at a hospital, troopers were not able to administer field sobriety tests, but hospital-administered blood samples showed an alcohol level of 0.24 percent at the time of the accident — three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to a warrant.

It is MacNaughton's third DUI case, according to a warrant. He had been ordered to use an interlock ignition device, but the Mazda was not equipped with one, according to a warrant.