CT man faces manslaughter, reckless driving charges in Lisbon crash that killed pedestrian
A man charged with DUI following a fatal crash involving a pedestrian on Route 12 in Lisbon in October 2024 now faces manslaughter and reckless driving charges.
William Stonier, 36, of Ledyard was charged Wednesday in connection with a warrant troopers obtained following an investigation into a crash that killed 57-year-old Richard Dupont of the Jewett City section of Griswold, according to Connecticut State Police. Troopers charged Stonier at Norwich Superior Court.
Immediately following the crash, Stonier was arrested on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and illegally carrying a firearm while intoxicated. He was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving and failure to maintain the proper lane.
According to the warrant affidavit, troopers on Oct. 14, 2024, responded to Route 12, which also goes by River Road, just before 10:30 p.m. on the report of a one-vehicle crash and found Dupont lying on the ground, unresponsive and without a pulse. He was given CPR and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the warrant affidavit, a trooper who spoke to Stonier alleged that his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. Stonier did not report any injuries but appeared to be struggling to keep his balance, state police wrote. He told state police he had a firearm in the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn truck he was driving. The pistol was later found unsecured in the vehicle and seized, the warrant affidavit said.
Stonier reportedly failed field sobriety testing at the scene and was taken into custody, the warrant affidavit said. After being taken to the Troop E state police barracks in Montville, he took two breathalyzer tests which allegedly showed his blood alcohol content was 0.18 and 0.17, according to the warrant affidavit.
A witness to the crash said he was driving a Mack dump truck north on Route 12 when he passed a pedestrian who was walking on the northbound shoulder and was not wearing any reflective clothing, the warrant affidavit said. He said he drove slightly into the opposite lane as he passed the pedestrian.
Immediately afterward, the dump truck driver told police he heard a loud bang and saw a red pickup truck coming straight towards him through his passenger side mirror, according to the warrant affidavit. He crossed over the yellow lines to avoid a collision with the pickup truck, he claimed.
The man alleged that the pickup passed him 'at a very high rate of speed' and went airborne before hitting a telephone pole, the warrant affidavit said. He said the truck did not appear to slow down at any point and looked like it may have sped up before hitting the telephone pole.
The incident was investigated by the state police Collision, Analysis and Reconstruction Squad. The analysis reportedly found that Stonier, as he was headed north, veered partially off the road where the tires on the passenger side of his vehicle were traveling on sand and grass, leaving rut marks, the warrant affidavit said. The vehicle then struck a fire hydrant and continued north before striking Dupont, state police wrote.
According to the warrant affidavit, Stonier then passed the dump truck and struck a guardrail before continuing north. The truck then collided with a rock wall and a wooden pole before going airborne and rolling over, state police wrote. The truck rolled over once and settled back onto its wheels, the warrant affidavit said.
The analysis conducted by state police reportedly found that the Ram was going between 56 and 68 mph when it collided with the pole, according to the warrant affidavit. The vehicle was reportedly found to have been going as fast as 81 to 88 mph before the crash, the warrant affidavit said.
The warrant for Stonier's arrest was signed by a judge on Monday. He appeared in court following his arrest on the new charges and posted a $300,000 bond, court records show.
Stonier is scheduled to appear in court again on June 4 in connection with the new charges as well as those stemming from his arrest at the scene.
According to an obituary, Dupont graduated from Griswold High School in 1986 and was a loyal fan of the Red Sox and 49ers. He had recently begun working at WalMart in the meat and produce division after working at Better Val-U for 28 years, the obituary said.
'Many who have commented with high regards on social media after learning about Rich's passing, noted that Rich could be seen regularly, walking to and from work,' the obituary said. 'A testament to his work ethic and determination to go to work every day.'
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