Waterford Police Release Maynard Accident Diagram to the Public

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, a press conference was held by Waterford Police Department Chief Brett Mahoney, at which he shared the conclusions pertaining to a Jan. 14 car accident on Route 32 in Waterford involving State Sen. Andrew Maynard and Laury Benjamin-Scelfo of Uncasville.

The Police Department said they wanted to share the entire text of Mahoney’s press conference and the diagram of the accident (see above).

“Numerous press outlets have recorded small portions of the press conference that the Waterford Police department gave, we wanted the public to have all of the information that we gave today,” police said via Facebook. “The following is the press conference Chief Mahoney gave in its entirety. The only things that have been removed are house cleaning items such as costs for the freedom of information act and email sign-ups, etc. We have also included our diagram of the accident.”

Chief Mahoney Statement At Press Conference

“It is important to note that while I am aware that there are other items that the public and the press is interested in regarding one of the involved participants in this accident, the Waterford Police Department was and is focused on the accident itself, not the political ramifications of it.

On 01/14/2016 at 3:31 p.m., The Waterford Police Department responded to what was initially reported by our dispatch center as a one car motor vehicle accident on Route 32 northbound in the area of Scotchcap Road in the Quaker Hill section of Waterford.

I take care of much of the social media for our department. Hearing on the radio the report of a one car accident, and knowing the traffic problems that these accidents can cause, I made a Facebook post that stated there was a one car accident and to avoid the area.

Several Waterford Police Officers and a Sergeant, who is on our Accident Investigation Team responded to the accident scene. Upon arrival, the Officers found that the accident was in fact a two car accident. The next day the Waterford Police Department released a press release that clarified the two car accident.

Our at scene investigation showed the following:

• A car being driven by Senator Andrew Maynard was operating southbound on Route 32
• A car being driven by a second operator was driving northbound on Route 32 in the area of Scotchcap Road
• Senator Maynard’s vehicle hit the middle divider or “Jersey Barrier” just before the Scotchcap Road intersection, then crossed through the intersection, entering the northbound lanes of Route 32
• Senator Maynard’s vehicle struck the second vehicle, then went off the roadway and hit a telephone pole guide wire, which spun the car. His vehicle came to a rest approximately 101 feet from the intersection
• The second vehicle came to rest past Scotchcap Road
• There were no reports of any smell of liquor from either vehicle
• Senator Maynard was unconscious at the scene
• Senator Maynard was transported by ambulance from the scene
• No Field Sobriety tests were given to either party as there was no indication of impairment and the Senator was being attended to by medical personnel
• The operator of the other vehicle refused medical treatment at the scene.

Our subsequent investigation revealed the following:

• As this was an accident that was determined to have non life-threatening injuries, an Accident reconstruction was not done
• There were three witnesses to the crash, all of whom reported that he was having a medical problem, seizure or some kind of trouble. Written statements were obtained from these witnesses
• All persons involved in this accident have fully cooperated with the Waterford Police Department’s investigation
• The Senator’s license to operate a motor vehicle was seized pending review by the State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
• Officers spoke directly with the Senator regarding the accident. This took a week as the Senator was recovering from his injuries sustained. He was able to communicate verbally and with gestures as to what occurred, but did not recall any details of the accident
• Medical records of Senator Maynard’s treatment were obtained from the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital.

Medical records showed the following:

• Senator Maynard suffered a “breakthrough seizure” at the time of the accident

• No alcohol was present in the Senator’s blood, and no drugs were listed

• The accident investigation was sent to the New London County State’s Attorney’s Office for review. After their review, the State’s Attorney’s Office concurred with the Waterford Police Department’s findings

• As the at fault party in this accident, Senator Maynard, suffered a medical issue that caused the accident, the Waterford Police Department will not be charging the Senator

The accident investigation was lengthy, due to the amount of public scrutiny that exists due to the political ramifications of this case. Again, the Waterford Police Department was and is focused on the accident itself. I am proud of the numerous officer hours that went into this accident investigation and consider it resolved.”

Questions from various press outlets were then answered, police said.

Related

• State Sen. Maynard Involved in Car Accident in Waterford
• Sen. Maynard Was Driving the Wrong Way at the Time of the Accident: PD
• Wrong-Way Crash, a State Senator and Unanswered Questions
• Police Release 911 Audio of Sen. Andrew Maynard’s Wrong-Way Crash in Waterford
• Maynard Car Accident Report Undergoing Independent Review
• Maynard Not Running For Senate Seat Again; Heather Somers Running
• Maynard Suffers “Breakthrough Seizure,” Won’t Be Charged in Accident

(Accident diagram courtesy of Waterford Police)