Man Charged With DWI After Passenger Tumbles From ATV

A Darien man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and operating an unregistered motor vehicle early Monday morning after a passenger fell out of his all-terrain vehicle, according to Darien police.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday, police said, when Cornell French, 44, of Pear Tree Point Road had been driving a 2006 Kawasaki Mule 3010 down Crane Road.

With three other passengers in the vehicle—on their way to visit people at a nearby house, police were told—French executed a right turn onto Pear Tree Point. Unbeknownst to the other riders, a 51 year-old Darien resident seated in the rear tumbled from the ATV, which continued onward without her.

When the vehicle arrived shortly after at its destination, the occupants realized the woman was no longer in the vehicle and retraced their steps.

Returning to the intersection, they found the woman lying on the side of the road with lacerations to her head, prompting them to seek medical attention. A bystander told Patch he saw a pool of blood and a purse in the road, as well.

The incident was initially reported as a medical call to police, who arrived to find members of Post 53 and group of bystanders on the scene. The woman was treated and transported to Stamford Hospital for her injuries, described by police as "non-life-threatening."

When officers interviewed French, a strong odor of alcohol was reportedly detected on his breath. After he failed field sobriety tests, French was arrested around 12:11 a.m. and released on $240 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court June 10.

The Kawasaki model French was driving is listed as having a top speed of 25 mph.