Teacher Has at Least 5 DUI Arrests: Officials

A Columbia middle school teacher charged in a drunken driving crash early Wednesday afternoon has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence at least five times since 1997 and stopped by a liquor store about an hour before the crash, according to police and court documents.

On Wednesday morning, Jessica Duers, 44, of Mansfield, taught one class at Horace W. Porter School before leaving to go home sick, according to Columbia Superintendent Laurence Fearon. He said that there was no indication that she was under the influence of anything at school.

At 10:49 a.m., she stopped by Columbia Package Store, around two miles away from the school, and spent $19.13, according to the arrest warrant. A clerk at the liquor store said she purchased a 750-milileter bottle of Fireball cinnamon whiskey while she was there.

At 11:58 a.m., Duers was trying to make an illegal left turn from West Main Street to West Avenue in Willimantic and hit a Ford with two people inside, sent it off the road and onto the sidewalk, where an 78-year-old man was struck, police said.

At first the man was unconscious, then he was screaming in pain and medics would soon determine that he had a fractured femur and several injuries, police said.

The two people in the Ford sustained minor injuries and all three were taken to the hospital to be evaluated, but Duers said she was not hurt and did not need medical attention, police said.

As officers questioned her, there was no smell of alcohol, but Duers' speech was slurred, she stared off into the distance and paused during the conversation, according to police.

At first, Duers denied drinking any alcohol and said she took a .5 mg dose of Klonopin and a 1 mg dose of Vexitran, but later admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash and failed several sobriety tests, police said. 

She also admitted to being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs several times in the past, according to the warrant.

Court officials said on Thursday that Duers has been arrested on driving under the influence charges at least five times since 1997, some under the last name Duers and other times, under her maiden name of Fleming

Duers was charged with driving under the influence, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and restricted turns and failing to signal in connection with the crash this week.

When NBC Connecticut spoke with Duers' husband, Chris, yesterday, he confirmed the prior arrests and said his wife has struggled with the issue in the past and that she's had past incidents in East Hampton.

"She's a very good person, but obviously has done some regrettable things," he said.

Duers, a part-time life skills teacher, a subject similar to home economics, and has been at the school since September and is on paid leave.

She appeared in court on Wednesday, where a judge set bond at $50,000 and revoked her driving privileges. She is due back in court on Jan. 5.

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