Tonight police reenacted the wild crash in Fairfield that sent four people to the hospital after a Bridgeport woman reportedly struck a convenience store at 60 mph.
The crash happened March 25 when 31-year-old Rosa Blanca Chavarria-Media, of Bridgeport, flew down an Interstate 95 ramp when she lost control, striking a Cumberland Farms and several other cars at 975 Kings Highway East.
Police said her blood alcohol content was .27, more than three times the legal limit to drive.
Chavarria-Medina was taken into custody Monday, March 31. She reportedly told police, "It was dark and I didn't know the speed limit."
Investigators plan to recreated the crash Wednesday night in an effort to better understand what happened. The reenactment began around 8:45, according to Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara.
Chamber Street was closed between Kings Highway East and Johnson Drive, and the I-95 exit 24 southbound ramp was shut down during the reenactment.
Chavarria-Medina's car burst into flames and four people were taken to the hospital.
Emergency responders had to extricate Chavarria-Medina, who was driving alone in her car. A Good Samaritan extinguished the fire with an extinguisher from the gas station, police said.
Police have charged Chavarria-Medina with reckless endangerment in the first degree, driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, reckless driving, passing on the right and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Chavarria-Medina's driving privileges had been suspended twice for motor vehicle complaints and infractions, police said.
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"This is a dangerous individual who created a very dangerous situation," said Fairfield Police Lt. James Perez.
Police said one of the people injured in the crash, 24-year-old Daniel Chis, received three fractured vertebrae and a fractured orbital in the crash. He's expected to suffer lifelong injuries as a result.
"I really just remember waking up in the hospital. My face didn't really hurt that bad. It's just my back, but I'm trying really hard to keep it straight...I can't say for certain because most of it is a blur," said Chis.
Another driver, Kayla Velez, was in her car with her 18-month-old daughter, Brooklyn, were in one of the cars that was struck. Kayla suffered some minor bruises on her side. Brooklyn was not hurt.
Four people who were injured in the crash are looking to file a lawsuit.
Chavarria-Medina appeared in court today and was held on $15,000 bond. A judge ordered her not to drive if she posts bond and is released.
