Naugatuck man charged with DUI after hitting pedestrian in parking lot

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Domingos Teixeira

NAUGATUCK — A man suffered serious injuries after being run over by an SUV in a parking lot on Rubber Avenue Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Police suspect Domingos Teixeira, 53, of Naugatuck, was driving under the influence when he hit the man with his 2003 Toyota Sequoia in the parking lot of Meineke Car Care Center, 144 Rubber Ave. The crash occurred at about 3:50 p.m., police said.

Police said the victim, 58-year-old Richard Alanskas of Naugatuck, was taken to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. As of Thursday afternoon, Alanskas was still being treated at the hospital, Naugatuck police spokesman Lt. Colin McAllister said.

One of Alanskas’ legs was pinned under a tire, and firefighters had to extricate him from under the SUV. Naugatuck Assistant Fire Chief John DeBisschop said Meineke employees tried to jack the car up with a regular floor jack. Since it was an SUV, he said, they could only lift the SUV’s suspension and not the tire.

Firefighters used a tool called a TL-9, which is an attachment for the Jaws of Life, to lift the SUV and free Alanskas, DeBisschop said.

McAllister said Teixeira and Alanskas know each other. He said Alanskas was in Teixeira’s SUV at one point before being hit. Police are working to determine what led up to Alanskas being hit.

The Naugatuck Valley Collision Investigation Team, which consists of officers from Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Plymouth, Watertown and Wolcott, is investigating the crash.

Police charged Teixeira with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle while intoxicated, driving under the influence, reckless driving and drinking an alcoholic beverage while driving. He was held on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Thursday.

Luke Marshall contributed to this report.