New Charges Lodged Against Motorist In Serious 2025 Old Lyme Crash

OLD LYME, CT — A woman accused of driving while under the influence and crashing a truck last September, seriously injuring her passenger, now faces additional charges.

Kelsey Velez, 31, of Plainfield, turned herself in to state police on Aug. 13.

Police charged her on a warrant with reckless driving, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Velez posted a $30,000 bond and is due to appear in Superior Court in New London today.

State police had previously charged her with operating under the influence, failure to maintain lane, and interfering with an officer in connection with the crash.

The accident happened Sept. 7, 2025 around 2:08 a.m. on Four Mile River Road in Old Lyme.

State police said the Dodge Ram pickup truck Velez was operating went off the road and struck a utility pole.

The male passenger, a 23-year-old Old Lyme resident, suffered “serious” injuries, according to state police. Details on the nature of his injuries are redacted from the arrest warrant. Documents filed in civil court, however, show he suffered blunt force trauma, fractures to the bones of his face and legs, and bleeding and swelling to the brain.

Emergency personnel took the passenger to the Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center. He was later transferred to Yale New Haven Hospital.

Velez and the passenger had been at a business establishment that evening, and she reported he had asked her for a ride home.

According to the arrest warrant, after the accident, Velez exited the truck, and police found her at a residence on Four Mile River Road. She reported she had walked to the nearest residence to get help after her passenger wasn’t waking up. A witness, who lives at the house Velez went to, called 911, the warrant states.

According to police, Velez initially refused to give them her name and date of birth. The warrant states she failed field sobriety tests, refused to provide a breath sample, and was arrested at the scene. State police said she admitted to using alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, according to the warrant.

State police estimate Velez had been driving between 60 and 65 miles per hour at the time of the crash, the warrant states. The speed limit at that location is 35 miles per hour, according to state police.

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