CT Woman Charged with DWI After 3-Car Accident in Port Chester

A Connecticut woman who was distracted by her cell phone as she was driving on North Regent Street Wednesday night was charged with drunken driving after she drove into the rear of another car, according to Port Chester police.

The collision led to a chain-reaction accident, bring the total to three cars that were involved in the 11:25 p.m. incident near the intersection of Glen Avenue. Police said a 48-year-old Port Chester woman complained of neck and arm pain after her car was struck and she was taken to Greenwich Hospital for treatment.

Police said Layne Smalheiser, 57, of 23 Benedict Hill Road, New Canaan, CT, appeared intoxicated after the accident and was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Smalheiser was later released on $200 bail and police said she was taken to Greenwich Hospital for evaluation as a precaution after statements she made while she was at police headquarters.

Smalheiser, according to police, was driving a Merecedes Benz on North Regent Street and looked away from the road to look at her cell phone. Police said she then drove into the rear of Kia stopped ahead of her and the crash pushed the Kia into a Ford that was also stopped.

A 55-year-old Port Chester man who was also involved in the accident was not injured, police said.

Smalheiser faces a hearing in Port Chester Village Court.