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Pool Worker Arrested for Icing Hill and Causing Accidents

Feb. 16, 2014

A bizarre turn of events lead to a man’s arrest when draining a pool in freezing temperatures ended up causing a handful of accidents.

Alfredo Bahena-Benitez, a 34-year-old Connecticut pool company worker, was draining a swimming pool onto a roadway in sub-freezing temperatures, and several vehicles ended up crashing. No one was injured in the crashes, but significant damage was done to the vehicles. Bahena-Benitez, who works for Darien-based Swimm Pool & Patio, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Police first received a call early Thursday morning stating that there was a hose spraying water directly into the street right on the top of a hill, and a sheet of ice emanating directly downhill from there. Police Lt. Paul Resnick said “the ice was so vast that even responding officers officially initially had difficulty getting close to the accident scene.”

5 vehicles total were involved in the accidents. One woman’s car slid into a guardrail, an SUV spun out and hit an oncoming vehicle, and another vehicle struck the SUV, continuing on to hit an oncoming salt truck plow before coming to a rest. The truck had been dispatched to clean up the scene at the time of the accident. The 54-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the plow was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. She was released later the same day.

Swimm Pool & Patio declined to comment on the story, but Bahena-Benitez was released on $1,000 bail, and has been ordered to appear in court in late January.

Business owners are wise to plan ahead for potent liability caused by actions of employees. Creating policies and standard operating procedures can help reduce the potential for liability claims. Proper insurance coverage and structuring of business entities are simple ways of protecting against losses associated with liability claims. Speaking to an attorney experienced in these areas can prove invaluable.