Police and Fire: Avon Resident Charged with DUI After Driving into Flooded Road

An Avon resident was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence near the flooded intersection of Old Farms and Tillotson roads Monday evening.

Matthew Murphy, 42, 88 Cotswold Way, Avon was additionally cited for failure to drive in the proper lane, operating or towing an unregistered motor vehicle or trailer and failure to obey signs and markings.

Old Farms was closed at Waterville and Thompson roads Sunday after excess water from the Farmington River and nearby ponds and creeks spilled over the banks and flooded the roads, Fisher Meadows and Avon Old Farms School athletic fields.

The Avon Volunteer Fire Department and Avon Police Department responded at 7:11 p.m. Monday to rescue the driver after he drove into the water on Old Farms Road, Avon Fire Chief Michael Trick confirmed.

While the rescue was successful and happened relatively quickly, Trick said that the driver not only "endangered himself," but also put the volunteer firefighters who went into the flooded water to save him at risk by driving on the closed and flooded road.

Murphy was released on a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Sept. 14.

Trick said that many drivers have been disregarding the police tape and barricades on closed roads across town. He and Avon Emergency Management Director James DiPace caution drivers against doing so because the barricades are there to protect locals from unsafe roads and damaged power lines.

Old Farms and Tillotson roads remained closed on Tuesday. Fisher Meadows and Avon Old Farms School athletic fields were still flooded.

Trick said the water on Secret Lake Road has receded and that Deercliff Road is now passable.

Burnham Road remains closed, as well as a portion of Winding Lane Road.

Editor's Note: If you have any questions about this arrest, please contact Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer at Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com or 860-356-6339.