Double DUI: Woman, Then Man Behind Wheel

First, according to , a Stamford woman driving a minivan rear-ended a car stopped on the Post Road at Sedgwick Avenue; then she switched places with a male passenger, who tried to drive off.

That escape attempt ended when the female fell out of the minivan, police said. The driver of the car that was hit was then able to stop the minivan.

Darien police gave the following account of the incident:

Floridalma Gomez Machado, 44, of Stephen Street in Stamford, was driving a 1998 Toyota minivan west on the Post Road at about 1:20 p.m. on Monday, June 18, when she rear-ended a Kia Soul in front of her.

She and a male passenger in the car, Manuel Antonio Limus, 51, who lives at the same address, both got out of the van. The driver of the Kia tried to talk with them, but it appeared the two only spoke Spanish and did not know enough English to communicate.

The two got back in the van, this time with Limus behind the wheel, and Limus began driving off. As the minivan approached the intersection with Mansfield Avenue, Machado fell out of the minivan.

The driver of the Kia was somehow able to stop the minivan from moving further until police arrived.

Wandering off

But Limus walked away and was no longer at the scene when police arrived. She was later found walking in a back yard near Sedgwick Avenue.

Machado was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, interfering with an officer, evading responsibility and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Lemus was charged with driving while intoxicated, interfering with an officer, operating without a driver's license and failure to have vehicle insurance.

Machado later posted a $250 bond and is scheduled to appear June 28 in state Superior Court in Stamford. Lemus posted a $500 bond and has the same court date in the same courthouse.