Ledyard car chase ends in crash, arrest of driver

Ledyard - Town police arrested a Gales Ferry man Tuesday night who they say led police in a car chase and then crashed into a car while he was allegedly intoxicated.

Phillip R. Denning Jr., 35, of 20 West Drive, was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, following too closely and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Police said at about 9:45 p.m. they received numerous calls reporting that a vehicle was driving erratically on Interstate 395 and Route 2A in Montville.

The vehicle passed a state trooper on Route 2A at a high speed, turning south onto Route 12. As the vehicle traveled southbound on Route 12 into Ledyard, it passed a

Ledyard police cruiser at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle then struck the rear of another southbound vehicle and came to rest. As a result of the crash, a passenger in the second vehicle was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, police said.

The operator of the second vehicle, Anthony Longo of Groton, was uninjured.