Norwich woman backs into neighbors' gas meter, is charged with DUI
Norwich — A city woman allegedly backed into her neighbors' gas meter while intoxicated early Friday morning and didn’t report it, according to police.
Stephanie Hart, 45, of 139 Hickory St. was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and evading responsibility.
According to Norwich police Capt. Chris Ferace, the woman’s car clipped the gas meter at 135 Hickory St. He described the residences as having a shared driveway.
Chris Riley, spokesman for Norwich Public Utilities, said the incident was reported about 12:55 a.m. and NPU was on scene within 10 minutes. Thanks to a partnership between NPU and the city fire department, Riley said firefighters, who beat NPU to the scene, knew to shut the gas off.
Riley said the NPU crew made the unit safe by about 1:20 a.m. Four employees on Friday morning were working on permanent repairs, which included replacing or repairing the piping that feeds the meter and the meter itself. He estimated one of the apartments at 135 Hickory St. would be without heat until mid-afternoon, but said the other is oil-heated and wasn’t affected by the incident.
Hart was released from custody on a $5,000 nonsurety bond, Ferace said.
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