Westerly man charged in I-95 crash that critically injured a Ledyard woman

State police arrested a 24-year-old Westerly, R.I., man Monday on multiple charges related to a crash on Interstate 95 in Groton last year that critically injured a Ledyard woman.

Caleb L. Mikeworth is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to maintain the proper lane, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, speeding and second-degree reckless endangerment in connection with the early morning crash on May 14, 2023.

State police said the crash occurred on the southbound side of I-95 just prior to Exit 88, where Mikeworth’s 1999 Toyota Avalon veered off of the road and struck a rock face. Mikeworth’s passenger, 27-year-old Joycelynn Green of Ledyard, was ejected from the car.

State police said they suspect that Green, who was likely still impaired from a night out of partying, was assisted into the car while she was still asleep or semi-conscious. She did not have a seat belt on. Those allegations led to the reckless endangerment charge against Mikeworth.

Green was flown by Life Star helicopter to Hartford Hospital after the crash and underwent several surgeries, police said.

Witnesses said Mikeworth’s car was spotted before the crash driving erratically, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic, police said. Police said blood tests showed Mikeworth had traces of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and Benzodiazepine, a depressant, in his system.

His blood alcohol level was .02%, well below the legal limit of .08%. Police said, however, that the blood was drawn more than four hours after the 5:30 a.m. crash and allege Mikeworth would have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Free on a $40,000 bond, Mikeworth is slated to appear Aug. 5 in New London Superior Court. He was additionally charged with second-degree breach of peace by Stonington police for an incident in December.