Groton Man Arrested In Connection With Serious Injury Crash

GROTON, CT — A Groton man has been arrested in connection with a crash that seriously injured two people, according to police. Christopher Stevens, 28, of 600 Meridian St. Extension Apt. 1323, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, reckless driving, failure to grant right of way, and passing on the right.

On May 24 at 1:03 p.m., emergency services received 911 calls reporting a motor vehicle accident on Gold Star Highway at the intersection with Toll Gate Road.

A 2015 Harley Davidson FLHX was traveling eastbound on Route 184 at Toll Gate Rd and a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R750 motorcycle was traveling westbound when the two motorcycles collided in the intersection.

The driver of the Harley Davidson, Robert Lombardo, 49, of Willington and his passenger Sara Cleveland, 45, of Manchester, sustained serious injuries and were transported via Life Star Helicopter.

Lombardo was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital. Cleveland was taken to Hartford Hospital.

Stevens, the driver of the Suzuki, was transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London via ambulance for treatment for minor injuries and later released.

A police investigation found that Lombardo was attempting a turn onto Toll Gate Road when Stevens, who was at a red light in the westbound lane of Gold Star Highway, then moved to the shoulder to pass the stationary traffic and travel into the intersection.

Stevens' Suzuki then struck the right side of Lombardo's Harley Davidson.

Police found Stevens at his place of employment Wednesday at 1 p.m. and arrested him on a warrant.

He was released on a court set bond of $30,000 with a court date of Aug. 25.