Pedestrian's Leg Severed After Crash Pins Him Between 2 Cars in Meriden

A male pedestrian was injured and a driver was arrested after a three-vehicle crash in Meriden Friday night that pinned the man between two vehicles and severed his leg. 

Meriden police responded to the area of 772 Broad Street at about 10:45 p.m. to investigate the accident.

When they arrived, they found Benjamin Ariza, 35, with a severed left leg and injured right leg.

A white Chevy Trailblazer headed north on Broad Street was trying to turn left into the driveway at 772 Broad Street and a Kia Sedona was also waiting behind it to turn into the same driveway. Ariza, who was riding in Chevy, got out of the rear passenger door while they waited for southbound traffic to let up, police said. As he stood between the two cars, waiting to cross the street, a Nissan Titan that Danny Perez, 32, was driving struck the Sedona from behind, pinning Azira's legs between the two cars. , severing one of them.

The first responding police officer wrapped a tourniquet around his leg to stop heavy bleeding, police said. Meriden firefighters and Hunters Ambulance tended to his injuries when they arrived before he was taken to Hartford Hospital for further treatment, police said. 

Ariza's condition is unknown. 

Police had Perez do a field sobriety test on scene and he failed, so he was taken to the Meriden Police Department, where they tested him on the Intoxilyzer. His blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit of .08. 

Meriden police charged Perez with driving under the influence, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and reckless driving. They held him on a $20,000 bond. 

The department's accident reconstruction unit is investigating the crash. Police ask any witnesses to call Officer Donna Zurstadt at 203-630-6215 or Lt. Thomas Cossette at 203-6300-6256. 

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