A Columbia middle school teacher charged in a drunken driving crash after leaving school sick earlier this month has resigned.
Earlier this month, Jessica Duers, 44, of Mansfield, was arrested after getting into a crash on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 3.
She had taught one class at Horace W. Porter School before leaving to go home sick, according to Columbia Superintendent Laurence Fearon, who said that there was no indication that she was under the influence of anything at school.
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.
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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 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.
In the most recent case, she was charged with driving under the influence, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and restricted turns and failing to signal.
When NBC Connecticut spoke with Duers' husband, Chris, 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, who was a part-time life skills teacher, a subject similar to home economics, was on paid leave, but the school board has accepted her resignation.
"The Willimantic Police Department is now aware of Mrs. Duers' resignation. [We] have no further comment on this unfortunate incident other than to say that this is now a judicial matter," Cpl. Stanley Parizo, Jr. said in a statement Friday.
When Duers appeared in court earlier this month, a judge set bond at $50,000 and revoked her driving privileges. She is due back in court on Jan. 5.
