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First responders are stressing the importance of the state's "Move Over Law" after a close call on I-95 over the weekend.
State police say a Trumbull woman is facing several charges including DUI after they say she failed to move over for stopped emergency vehicles on I-95.
Allison Soto, 22, is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, failure to maintain lane and failure to slow/move over for emergency vehicles.
The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. Sunday just south of Exit 22 on the northbound side of I-95.
Fairfield Fire Lt. Bob Smith and his crew were dispatched to the scene for a two-car crash. State police closed down the right lane.
"We had used our apparatus to block the scene," says Smith. "All of a sudden we heard a thump, thump and somebody drove past us and ran down our cones."
Authorities say Soto hit multiple traffic cones after failing to move over for the stopped emergency vehicles.
Smith says he and four other firefighters were around 10 feet away from the cones and a tow truck driver was loading cars onto his flatbed.
"He had to duck for cover," says Smith. "State police were on scene and were able to quickly pull out and pull the driver over."
State police say Soto had glossy, bloodshot eyes when they pulled her over. They say she was arrested after taking a field sobriety test.
"We were lucky. A couple feet either way, it could have been a very tragic event for us that night," says Smith. "It doesn't take long to slow down, move over one lane if you can. It's going to help every one of us go home at the end of the day," he added.
Soto posted a $500 bond and is due in court June 20.
