Investigation of Men Killed on I-95 Changing Tire Continues

With a state investigation continuing of an incident last month where two men were struck and killed by a car on Interstate 95 in Darien, the case of a Stamford woman charged in connection with that incident had to be continued Tuesday.

Discovery in the case continues, lawyer Darnell D. Crosland of Stamford advised Judge William J. Wenzel in in Stamford.

Crossland is the defense attorney for Candice N. Blanks, 39, of 5637 Bedford St., whom State Police have charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and two counts of evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident that caused a death.

State Police said Blanks' 2003 Lincoln Aviator struck the men early on Oct. 16 while they were changing a flat tire on the southbound shoulder of the highway three-tenths of a mile south of exit 11.

The accident, reported at 2:26 a.m., resulted in the death of Lucas Silva, 22, of Colonial Drive in Stamford, and Fillipe Chagas, 19, of Roberts Place in Bethel. Both died of blunt force trauma and were pronounced dead at the scene, State Police said.

A State Police accident report said Blanks also was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, but that was incorrect. However, State Police have indicated they intend to charge Blanks with vehicular manslaughter following completion of their investigation.

The accident report said Silva and Chagas were with a group of friends traveling together in two cars.

One of the vehicles, a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, developed a flat left-rear tire and its driver steered it onto the shoulder and stopped. Seeing the Cavalier stop, the driver of the second car, a 2002 Volkswagen Passat, also steered onto the shoulder and stopped ahead of it.

Silva and Chagas were changing the tire on the Cavalier when, according to the report, Blanks' SUV drove by them in the right lane and struck them. Blanks car also sideswiped the Cavalier and the Passat.

Further details of the accident are contained in an affidavit State Police prepared to obtain a search and seizure warrant for Blank's Lincoln Aviator.

It said Darien Police located Blanks on Ledge Road in Darien, with her vehicle parked nearby on the right shoulder of I-95 north of exit 10.

A state trooper who arrived there said Blanks' SUV "had sustained severe damage to the front-end on the passenger side," with the front fender damaged and having parts missing. The trooper also reported observing blood on both sides of the fender and within the engine compartment.

The trooper said Blanks admitted being in an accident and said she "thought a car just pulled out in front of her and hit her vehicle."

The trooper said Blanks' breath smelled of alcohol and that she "appeared nervous and jittery, had blood shot eyes and was speaking with a slow, slurred speech."

The trooper said Blanks "did not perform to standard" when administered a field sobriety test.

Blanks was taken to Troop G in Bridgeport where she allegedly refused to sign a form saying she understood her rights as read to her by a trooper and declined to have her blood-alcohol content measured by a breath test.

A trooper in the room where Blanks was processed reported a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath and said she was "going through mood swings, and at times was laughing at the situation and at times crying."

Blanks was released after posting a $250,000 bond.

At the conclusion of the affidavit, the two troopers who applied for the search warrant said that they had probable cause to believe Blanks' vehicle contains evidence to prove she should be charged with two counts of manslaughter with a motor vehicle, two counts of evading responsibility which causes death, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both, and failure to maintain a lane.