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WESTON, Conn. Cindy Rivera, the 20-year-old Norwalk woman who faces negligent homicide and other charges in a fatal accident in May in Weston appeared in court Thursday and was released on $10,000 bond with a court date set for Oct. 31 in Norwalk Superior Court.
Rivera turned herself in Thursday morning after Weston police issued a warrant for her arrest Oct. 1. She was charged in the death of Emily Smith, 85, of Norwalk, who was injured in the automobile accident on May 6 and died on May 22.
Rivera was charged with negligent homicide, reckless driving, speeding to endanger, operating a motor vehicle without a license and failure to drive right in the proper lane.
Weston police Detective Carl Filsinger said she would have received the more serious charge of manslaughter if there was a DUI violation but no impairment was detected at the scene.
The accident occurred on Newtown Turnpike south of the Redding town line when Rivera sped around a curve, lost control of her vehicle and hit Smiths vehicle head on. Rivera suffered minor leg injuries and the passenger in her car, a 16-year-old boy, was uninjured, Filsinger said.
Smith, who was alone in her car, died at Yale New Haven Hospital.
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