One Allegedly Drunk Driver: Two Separate Serious Crashes, Multiple People Injured

A woman who allegedly fled the scene on Saturday evening of separate car crashes that caused serious bodily injuries to multiple people, was arrested and is facing a number of charges, according to police..

Lillian Claudio, 35, of Winthrop is charged with:

• Causing Serious Bodily Injury By Operating A Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol of Alcohol
• Leaving the Scene of Personal Injury
• Child Endangerment While OUI
• Children Between the Ages of 6-12 Years Old Not Wearing A Seatbelt
• Negligent Operation of A Motor Vehicle
• Leaving the Scene of Property Damage

The incident was first reported at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday wehn police were dispatched to the area of Warren Street and Wyman Street for a report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries.

Upon police’s arrival to the scene, they noticed a three-car crash had occurred at the intersection of Warren Street and Wyman Street. Arlington Fire was also on scene to provide assistance.

Police learned that a black sedan had struck a parked 2003 Ford Explorer head-on while on Wyman Street. This caused the Explorer to spin 360 degrees and eject a 33-year-old man from Somerville, who was sitting in the driver’s side seat, from the vehicle. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with life threatening injuries.

The car then fled the scene and ended up on on Broadway where the driver failed to stop at the stop sign on Wyman Street to access Warren Street. The car proceeded to drive into the front, driver’s side of a man’s 2010 Nissan Murano before continuing on Wyman Street. The man and his and passenger were treated on scene for injuries, but did not go to the hospital.

A witness then observed the black sedan attempting to accelerate toward Warren Street. It was derailed when it collided with a parked Ford F350 truck head-on near the corner of Wyman Street and Warren Street. The truck was unoccupied.

The suspect car, a black 2014 Kia Optima, was being driven by Claudio. Police noticed a heavy odor of alcohol present in the motor vehicle.

Inside her vehicle were five passengers, including two children, who were not in age-appropriate car seats. All five occupants were taken to area hospitals with injuries. The state’s Department of Children and Families has been notified of the incident.

Arlington officers arrested Claudio, and she is being held on $10,000 cash bail by the Arlington Police Department pending her arraignment at Cambridge District Court on Monday Morning.

“These reckless actions resulted in numerous serious injuries and violations of the law,” Chief Frederick Ryan said. “This is an unfortunate example of what happens when someone gets behind the wheel while impaired.”

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section are assisting Arlington Police with the investigation, which remains open and ongoing.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.