Woman who lost fetus in DUI crash granted pretrial program
Chavez-Euceda was more than eight months pregnant at the time of the crash.
STAMFORD – An intoxicated city woman who crashed her car into a stone wall while she was eight months pregnant was granted a pretrial probation program Thursday afternoon despite objections from prosecutors.
Karen Chavez-Euceda, 36, was arrested in February after police said she crashed her car into a stone wall near Cummings Park in June 2020 while driving three times over the legal alcohol limit.
Chavez-Euceda was more than eight months pregnant at the time of the crash. Police said the fetus was stillborn following the crash.
On Thursday, ChavezEuceda and her attorney Edward Vioni stood before Judge Kevin Randolph asking for her to be admitted into the state’s alcohol education program — a program which, if successfully completed, would lead to her drunken driving charge being dropped.
Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Nemec argued Chavez-Euceda should not be granted the program, given the severity of the circumstances in the case.
“She killed a 31-week-old baby. The facts in this case were too serious for the granting of the program,” Nemec said.
Despite the state’s argument, Randolph ultimately granted Chavez-Euceda the program.
Under the alcohol education program, ChavezEuceda will have one year to successfully complete 10 education sessions. If she completes her sessions successfully, the drunken driving charge she faces will be dismissed.
Chavez-Euceda still faces charges of interfering with police, evading responsibility and failure to maintain the lane.
According to the police report, Chavez-Euceda was driving inside Cummings Park “at a high rate of speed and crashed into a stone wall” while trying to navigate a curve in the road.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the car abandoned, according to a release. Later that day, police responded to a Fairfield Avenue address in response to a report of a woman injured in a car crash.
“Upon investigating, it was determined that this woman was the operator of the Nissan that had crashed inside Cummings Park,” police said. “She was transported to Stamford Hospital due to being eight months pregnant, injuries suffered in the crash and being intoxicated.”
Her blood-alcohol content was 0.27 percent, “more than three times the legal limit,” police said.
Police said Chavez-Euceda initially denied being the operator of the vehicle, but she was arrested months later after an investigation.
Chavez-Euceda will appear back in court on Nov. 2 for a hearing regarding her remaining charges.