UPDATED: Man Charged With DUI In Sunday Accident

Police arrested a 40-year-old New London man after a Sunday morning accident on Williams Street damaged a residence.

Derick S. Lancaster, of 69 Hempstead Street, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to drive right, and driving with a suspended license. No bond was listed on the arrest log, but a clerk at the said Lancaster had not been scheduled to make an initial appearance.

According to state records, Lancaster was convicted of driving under suspension in Groton in 2004 and 2009.

Original article:

The Red Cross was working to relocate up to 12 people after a Sunday afternoon car accident compromised the stability of a Williams Street residence.

The accident, which occurred around 4:30 p.m., damaged three vehicles as well as the porch entryway to 42 Williams Street. Battalion Chief Marc A. Melanson of the said a building official would inspect the residence.

"There is some structural damage. I don't know to what extent," he said.

Shirley Smith, who lives next door to 42 Williams Street, was holding a tag sale in front of her residence at the time of the accident. She said the Dodge Grand Caravan came around the corner heading south and struck an SUV parked on the east side of the street. She said the van then accelerated away and came across the street, destroying a bureau set out at the sale before running down part of a chain link fence and colliding with the porch. Both the SUV and a Saab, which appeared to have been parked in front of 42 Williams Street, sustained some front end damage.

"My kids had just left," said Smith, saying the children had been riding their bikes in front of the building shortly before the accident.

Melanson said the driver of the van suffered minor injuries and refused treatment. He said he did not know if there were any other occupants in the vehicle.