Seymour man gets prison for injuring two in 2020 Shelton DUI crash

MILFORD — A Seymour man was sentenced to serve two years in prison Monday for driving drunk in connection to a 2020 head-on collision on River Road in Shelton that injured two people.

Ryan Searles, 32, had pleaded guilty Feb. 27 before Judge Peter Brown to two counts of second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and driving under the influence related to the March 4, 2020 crash.

In court Monday, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Mary SanAngelo said that in addition to being intoxicated behind the wheel, Searles also had drugs in his possession and was speeding before the crash that left the vehicle he hit, driven by a woman and her then-fiance, destroyed.

“The female victim said she never had such pain and fear in her life as when she saw the car coming and didn’t know what to do,” the prosecutor said.

SanAngelo said that in addition to driving while impaired, Searles behavior after the crash was also “disturbing.”

“Mr. Searles stood there, had a cigarette, and was just worried about the cocaine that was left in his car,” she said. “Not at any time did he ever attempt to render assistance to the two individuals.”

The male victim had multiple surgeries to repair injuries that included a hand fracture that resulted in the insertion of two plates and 14 screws, as well as broken fingers, sternum, ribs, and a torn rotator cuff.

“He indicated the recovery from this accident was extreme because he was not able to do anything for himself,” SanAngelo said. “He couldn’t even get out of bed by himself.”

The female victim has had two years of physical therapy, chiropractic appointments, and injections because of the pain caused by the crash, SanAngelo said.

The victims were ready and willing to testify at trial, the prosecutor said, before Searles took a plea deal in the case prior to the beginning of jury selection that called for a sevenyear prison sentence to be suspended after he serves two years behind bars.

She said she was also bothered by Searles telling a probation official writing a presentence report that he continues to drink a couple times a month, and consumes six to 12 beers on each occasion, but “doesn’t feel that that drinking is a problem.”

“It’s the state’s position that 12 beers is a problem, especially when someone does not realize that,” SanAngelo said. “This defendant needs to take better assessment of his alcohol usage, because it was a direct correlation to the accident and the injuries to people who were just on their way to have dinner.”

Searles’ lawyer, Michael Hillis, commended his client for being truthful about his drinking, while noting that “if there is an alcohol issue, it should be addressed.”

“Mr. Searles has been remorseful about this accident since the day I met him,” Hillis said.

Searles has since gotten married to “a great woman” and has two daughters, one a newborn and another from his wife’s previous relationship to whom he became a father figure, Hillis said.

Searles repeatedly said he was sorry in court.

“I would like to formally apologize to the victims for my bad choices and the pain it has caused them since,” he said.

“This is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” he said, noting that he has since made dramatic changes to his life to avoid such “adolescent and irrational behaviors.”

The judge said that he appreciated Searles’ remorse, but Searles’ behavior and the injuries he caused “can’t be taken back.”

“Operating motor vehicles when you’re alert and awake and sober on a clear day, that can be tough,” Brown said. “When you do it when you’re impaired, you put everyone’s life in jeopardy. Obviously, things could have been worse, but it’s a horrible circumstance to have individuals injured to the extent that occurred here.”