East Lyme -- One person died, one suffered serious injuries and two more were hurt early Sunday when a car struck two motorcycles at the on-ramp of Exit 72 -- the Rocky Neck connector -- on Interstate 95 southbound.

The driver of the Ford Escort, Christiana F. Morton-Lane, 23, of 64 Browns Lane, Old Lyme, was not injured but was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

State police from Troop E said the Ford Escort was traveling on the on-ramp shortly after 1 a.m. when it went off the left side of the ramp, passed over about 100 feet of wire rope railing and then back on to the ramp. At the bottom, police said, it crossed the grassy area between the ramp and the highway lanes and on to the highway, hitting a motorcycle with two riders which was traveling in the right lane.

Another motorcycle with two riders was also in the right lane directly behind the first. It struck the first motorcycle, and both of its riders were ejected.

Robert Burr, 35, of Clinton, operator of the first motorcycle, was pronounced dead at the scene and an unidentified passenger was taken to Hartford Hospital by Life Flight for serious life-threatening injuries, police said.

Dwaine Wilcox, 49, of Westbrook, driver of the second motorcycle, and an unidentified passenger were taken by ambulance to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London with moderate physical injuries, according to police.

The accident remains under investigation by Troop E.