Community Corner

Southington Man Charged with Manslaughter in Fatal December Accident

State police said Brett Peterman had a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit when he drove the wrong way up an exit ramp and caused a crash that killed Nancy Lee Salerno in December 2012.

A 30-year-old Southington man is facing charges after he was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol content at twice the legal limit and caused a crash at the exit 29 off-ramp to Interstate 84 in December that claimed the life of Plantsville resident Nancy Lee Salerno, according to state police.

State Troopers with the Connecticut State Police, Troop H in Hartford, took Brett Peterman, of 71 Wilbur St., into custody Friday.

Peterman, 30, was arraigned the same day in Bristol Superior Court on charges of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and driving under the influence. He was held without bail, according to court records.

An arrest warrant from the incident, obtained from Bristol Superior Court Tuesday, showed evidence that the accident occurred after Peterman allegedly went “to more than one bar” and tested with a blood alcohol level of .187, more than twice the state limit of .08, according to police.

When he was finished at the bar, police said Peterman entered I-84 westbound at the off-ramp around 11:30 p.m., traveling east against the traffic. Three drivers attempted to avoid an accident, swerving away from Peterman, before he struck Salerno head-on, causing fatal injuries, according to the warrant.

Both were taken to local hospitals and Peterman suffered initially life-threatening injuries in the crash, according to the report.

Court records show Peterman is due back in Bristol Superior Court on Aug. 29.

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