Ledyard police arrest two after Route 12 crash leads to fight
Preston — Ledyard police on Saturday said they arrested two men who got into a physical altercation after one of the men intentionally hit the other man's car.
Investigating police said that Nicholas Summers, 29, of Mansfield Center was driving southbound on Route 12 in a 2016 Acura RDX early Saturday morning when he intentionally struck the right rear side of a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck being driven by Benjamin Beaudoin, 33, of South Windham.
Lt. Ken Creutz said the incident started because Summers believed Beaudoin had his cellphone.
The Dodge spun and came to a stop on the grass shoulder. Summers also lost control of the Acura, according to police. After the two vehicles came to a rest, the driver of the Acura pushed the Dodge through the intersection of Route 12 and Drawbridge Road in Preston and over a curb, which caused the Dodge to roll over onto its side, according to police.
With the bottom of the Dodge facing his car, Summers, who was driving the Acura, pushed the pickup back onto Route 12 northbound across both lanes causing the truck to flip and land back on its tires on the grass shoulder of the northbound lane of Route 12. The momentum of the collision caused the Acura's front tires to mount on top of the roof of the Dodge Ram, according to police.
At that point, Summers exited the Acura and engaged in a physical altercation with Beaudoin while he was seated in the Dodge, police said.
When police arrived to the scene, all occupants were out of the vehicles. Police said both men were found to be intoxicated and were arrested.
Beaudoin was charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released on a $500 nonsurety bond and is scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Dec. 1.
Summers was charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief, breach of peace, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
He was released on a $10,000 surety bond and also is scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Dec. 1.
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