Oxford Man Blames Lidocaine for Fentanyl Positive in Route 8

This blog post digs into the latest twists in a high-profile case out of Oxford, Connecticut. William Kundert, 42, already faced serious charges over a tragic triple-fatal crash on Route 8 earlier this year.

Authorities took Kundert back into custody after he allegedly tested positive for fentanyl while under house arrest. Now, the legal fight is all about whether the test was accurate or just a false positive from a topical anesthetic.

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The case has grabbed attention across Connecticut—especially in towns like Seymour, Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Haven, Danbury, Torrington, and Norwalk. People are asking tough questions about drug testing protocols and bail rules.

Background on the Route 8 Fatal Crash

Police say that on a February 2024 afternoon, Kundert drove erratically along Route 8. His truck slammed into a Honda Civic, killing 25-year-old Andresa Alves Brito and her two young children, ages 6 and 3.

The crash sent shockwaves through communities from Derby to Waterbury. Residents mourned the heartbreaking loss.

After the crash, police arrested Kundert and charged him with:

Three counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle
Second-degree assault with a motor vehicle
Driving under the influence (DUI)

He got out on a $1 million bond. The court slapped on strict conditions: GPS monitoring, surveillance checks, and random drug testing.

Positive Drug Test Sparks Bail Increase

While under house arrest in Oxford, Kundert had to take regular urine tests. On June 17, one test allegedly showed fentanyl in his system.

Prosecutors jumped on the result. Judge Stephanie Damiani doubled Kundert’s bond to $2 million, sending him back to custody.

Defense Challenges Test Accuracy

Kundert’s attorney, Douglas Rudolph, quickly pushed back on the test’s validity. The defense says the positive result came from a false positive—Kundert had used a lidocaine-based topical anesthetic spray.

Rudolph points to peer-reviewed studies showing that lidocaine can mess with fentanyl test strips, causing inaccurate results. He also says Kundert followed all house arrest rules for the past year, with GPS records, surveillance footage, and testimony from Kundert’s fiancée backing him up.

Community Reaction Across Connecticut

This latest development has people talking in cities like Bridgeport, New Haven, and Danbury. Folks are worried about drug test reliability and whether it’s fair to send someone back to jail over a single disputed lab result.

In Torrington, defense attorneys argue that medical products need to be considered when reading drug screenings. It’s not exactly a new debate, but this case has brought it right back into the spotlight.

The Legal Road Ahead

Judge Damiani will soon hear arguments on whether Kundert’s original bond should be restored. The outcome probably depends on expert testimony about drug test reliability and how medical products might affect results.

A Case with Wider Implications

This case might seem isolated, but it hints at bigger issues in Connecticut’s criminal justice system, especially for towns like Seymour, Norwalk, and Derby. Legal experts are watching closely to see how the court deals with false positives and their effect on bail.

If the judge sides with the defense, Kundert could go back to house arrest. If not, he’ll likely stay in custody until trial. The decision won’t just shape Kundert’s future—it could shift how future bail hearings handle disputed drug test results.

What’s Next?

Right now, Kundert’s legal team is working to show this incident was just a one-off, not proof of drug use. Prosecutors haven’t said anything publicly, so there are still a lot of unanswered questions until the hearing.

People from Waterbury to New Haven are waiting for the judge’s decision. It’s a sharp reminder—legal situations can flip fast, and sometimes a single test result makes the difference between months in jail or being at home under tight monitoring.

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Here is the source article for this story: Oxford man charged in deadly Route 8 crash says lidocaine, not fentanyl, triggered positive drug test

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