Erratic Driver With Kids In Car Reeled In By 911 Caller In Cromwell

CROMWELL, CT — Before being arrested for driving under the influence in Cromwell, a woman with children in her vehicle was hemmed in by an alert 911 caller as sate police arrived at the scene.

The incident unraveled at 7:50 p.m., state police said. State police began receiving multiple 911 calls that reported an erratic driver traveling southbound on Interstate 91 near exit 24 in Wethersfield.

As troopers were responding, the driver of the silver Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicle pulled over on the highway shoulder near Exit 21 in Cromwell with no lights illuminated, state police said.

One of the 911 callers pulled over ahead of the vehicle to make sure it did not continue on, state police said. The caller also returned to the original location and describing what took place, state police said.

According to an arrest report, the caller was passed by the Volvo Exit 24, and it had no lights on. It was swerving and making "unsafe" lane changes and nearly hit other vehicles, according to an arrest report.

The driver was identified as Michelle Bullett, 36, of Hartford woman. When police arrived at the I-91 shoulder in Cromwell, she was located in the driver's seat of the vehicle with the keys in the ignition and the engine running, according to an arrest report. Three children — ages three, nine and 17 — were in the vehicle along with a dog, state police said. The children were not secured in appropriate child safety restraint systems, according to an arrest report.

Bullett had a distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage, along with glossy and bloodshot eyes, even though she denied drinking, according to an arrest report.

Bullett's license is suspended, the registration plate on the Volvo belonged to another vehicle, and it was unregistered and uninsured, state police said.

During field sobriety tests, Bullett had difficulty maintaining her balance and used the left side of her vehicle for support as she walked towards the rear. She failed all sobriety tests, according to an arrest report.

She was charged with:

• Driving under the influence
• DUI with a child passenger (three counts)
• Driving an unregistered vehicle
• The misuse of a registration plate
• Illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance
• Driving while under suspension
• Failure to maintain the proper lane on a limited access highway

Bullett later admitted to consuming alcohol, state police said. Care was arranged for the children and the the Department of Children and Families was advised of the incident, police added.

Bullett was later released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Middletown Superior Court on Dec. 9.