Collision Heading For Highway

Newtown Police report Joshuan Velasquez, 25, of Bridgton, N.J., operating a 2017 Dodge Charger, was traveling southbound on Hawleyville Road at 6:04 pm January 19. Orla O’Reilly, 46, of Eastchester, N.Y., operating a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road. Velasquez attempted to turn left onto the Interstate 84 East on ramp and struck O’Reilly’s vehicle.

Both operators were transported to Danbury Hospital with possible injuries. Velasquez’s vehicle was towed.

Velasquez was given an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license and making an improper turn.

Both Drivers Injured

Newtown Police report Tracy Garbatini, 66, of Derby, operating a 2016 Subaru Impreza, was traveling northbound on Berkshire Road at 6:15 am January 20. Robert Geriak, 36, of Waterbury, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling southbound on Berkshire Road. Garbatini crossed over the dividing line and struck Geriak’s vehicle head on.

Both operators were transported to Danbury Hospital with possible injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

The case is still open.

A photo of this crash appeared in the January 23, 2026 Newtown Bee.

Crossed Centerline, Hit Car

Newtown Police report Tirrell Smith, 31, of Stamford, operating a 2019 Peterbilt 520 truck, was traveling northbound on Old Green Road at 11:19 am January 20. Patrick Kelly, 59, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Audi Q7, was traveling southbound on Old Green Road. Smith crossed the centerline on a left-hand curve, causing the side of the vehicle to strike the rear door and quarter panel of Kelly’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Smith was issued a verbal warning that was unidentified in the report.

Suspended Registration, Suspended License

Newtown Police report that officers performed a routine traffic stop on a vehicle on Obtuse Road on January 20 after noting the plate attached to the vehicle did not match the car.

Further investigation showed that Marie Henry, 55, of Redding, was operating a vehicle with suspended registration, a suspended license, the wrong plates, and an expired registration.

She was charged with operation of an unregistered motor vehicle, improper use of marker plates, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under a 14-140 suspension.

She was scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on February 5.

Rear-Ended On Dodgingtown

Newtown Police report David Manzer, 59, of Danbury, operating a 2024 Honda HR-V, was traveling eastbound on Dodgingtown Road at 8:11 am January 21. He was traveling behind a 2016 Toyota Rav4 operated by Viktoria Dudar, 39, of Bethel. Dudar slowed to make a right hand turn onto Jacklin Road and stopped, and Manzer rear-ended the vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Manzer was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment Charges

Newtown Police report that at approximately 3:33 pm January 21, police received reports of an erratic vehicle on South Main Street. Officers located the vehicle, a 2014 Nissan Maxima traveling northbound on South Main Street, operating at high speed and passing vehicles. Officers were able to stop the vehicle and take the suspect into custody without incident.

Jacob Volpe, 29, of Mohegan Lake, N.Y., was charged with reckless driving, failure to comply with pass on right rules, and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was released on a $25,000 non-surety bond with a court date of February 4 in Danbury Superior Court.

Struck Embankment

Newtown Police report Nyhemiah Brady, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., operating a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling southbound on Botsford Hill Road at 1:04 am January 22. Brady’s vehicle slid on snow and went off the road and shoulder, striking an embankment.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Brady was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Alyssa Gonch, 18, of New Milford, operating a 2016 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling westbound on Hawleyville Road at 8:54 am January 22. She was traveling behind a 2016 Ford Explorer operated by David Vargas of Brookfield. Vargas stopped for traffic ahead and Gonch did not stop in time, and rear-ended Vargas’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Gonch was issued an infraction for following too close.

Sideswiped Car

Newtown Police report Angel Gahui, 27, of Danbury, operating a 2015 Nissan Rogue, was traveling southbound on Toddy Hill Road at 5:08 pm January 22. Patricia Northrup, 46, of Naugatuck, operating a 2019 Toyota Highlander, was traveling northbound on Toddy Hill Road. Gahui sideswiped Northrup’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Due to conflicting statements, no enforcement action was taken.

Both Operators Receive Infractions

Newtown Police report Nicolae Niga, 57, of Bridgeport, operating a 2025 Ford Expedition, was stopped on Currituck Road at the intersection of Hawleyville Road at 10:01 am January 23. Miguel Bustos-Soliz, 41, of Waterbury, operating a 2010 Toyota Highlander, was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road. Niga entered the intersection to turn left and was struck by Bustos-Soliz’s vehicle.

Both operators were transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Niga was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at a stop sign. Bustos-Soliz was issued an infraction for operating without a license.

Evading Vehicle Sought

Newtown Police report that at approximately 2:45 pm January 23, an unknown vehicle damaged a silver pickup truck while exiting a parking space at the lot at Caraluzzi’s, 5 Queen Street.

Any witnesses are asked to contact Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841 and reference case #2600001038.

Plow Truck Hits Parked Car

Newtown Police report Richard Boula, 60, of Dover Plains, N.Y., was plowing the parking lot of 11 Church Hill Road at 5:41 pm January 25. An unoccupied 2014 Toyota Corolla owned by Keith Gordon of Newtown was parked in the same lot. Boula’s vehicle slid and struck Gordon’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken since the incident occurred on private property.

Plow Backs Into Car

Newtown Police report Jeffrey Thomas, 52, of Southbury, operating a 2019 Ford F550, a town plow truck, was plowing snow on Old Echo Valley Road at 6:14 am January 26. Peter Anderau of Sandy Hook had parked his 2018 Honda Accord and left it unoccupied pulled along the side of his road while he was assisting another vehicle that was stuck in the snow. Thomas backed into Anderau’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Slid On Snow, Rear-Ended Car

Newtown Police report Alvaro DaSilva, 19, of Dover Plains, N.Y., operating a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C30, was traveling southbound on Currituck Road at 8:53 am January 27. Mercedes Reiner, 35, of Brookfield, operating a 2023 Tesla Model Y, was stopped at the intersection of Main Street. Due to the snow-covered roadway, DaSilva was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of Reiner’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

DaSilva was issued a verbal warning for following too close.