Driver was ‘sorry,’ but left injured mother, child

Waterford police stop motorist who departed scene of accident,charge him with DUI, other violations

Waterford — Police said a mother and her young child were seriously injured late Monday afternoon by a hit-and-run driver who police subsequently stopped and charged with operating under the influence, along with a host of other charges.

The woman was walking in a group of four when she was struck by the car, police said. Witnesses to the accident said the child was in a stroller that flipped over after the woman was struck. The accident occurred at 4:09 p.m. on Greentree Drive.

One witness said that immediately following the accident, the injured woman, whose face was bloodied, could be seen sitting on the grassy shoulder of the road, holding her child. A person from a nearby house brought her a towel and ice pack. A neighbor who asked not to be identified said the hit-and-run driver stopped, said “I’m sorry,” before getting back in his car and driving away.

The mother and child were taken by Waterford Ambulance to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. Police declined to identify the victims.

Two eyewitnesses provided a description of the vehicle, a tan 2006 Toyota Corolla. The car was spotted by an officer at 4:32 p.m. in the area of Lamphere Drive, where it was stopped.

The driver, Shane Bidwell, 27, of 1 Rogers Hill Road in Waterford, was evaluated by one of the department’s drug recognition experts at the traffic stop and arrested without incident, police said.

Bidwell is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, four counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, and evading responsibility in operation of a motor vehicle.

Bidwell, with a history of several petty larceny and drug possession

convictions, was held in lieu of $250,000 bond. He is on two years probation after being found guilty of possession of a controlled substance in March 2017, according to state judicial records. He received a oneyear suspended prison term as part of the probation deal.

Police sent an accident team to the scene to conduct an investigation and the road was closed immediately following the accident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford police at (860) 442-9451.

SARAH GORDON/THE DAY Students with the David Dorfman Dance Summer Intensive program and company members rehearse a piece on Monday at Connecticut College’s Myers Studio in New London. The annual program finished Monday after a week of technique, lab, improv and choreography classes.