Struck Vehicle Leaving Commuter Lot

Newtown Police report Fred Drumm, 70, of Danbury, operating a 2023 Hyundai Elantra, was making a left turn from the commuter lot for exit 11 at 3:23 pm March 30. John Maher, 16, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2006 Pontiac Vibe, was traveling on Wasserman Way toward Route 34. Police say the right front of Drumm’s vehicle made contact with the right side of Maher’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Drumm was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way at a driveway or private road, while in a construction, utility, traffic or fire work zone.

Failure To Maintain Distance

Connecticut State Police report Byron Rivera-Medina, 52, of Brewster, N.Y., operating a 2008 GMC Savanna, was traveling on Interstate 84 in the area of exit 11, in the left lane of three, at 1:32 pm April 10. He was traveling behind a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee operated by Gianna Dipaola, 22, of Brookfield. Police say Dipaola was slowing due to heavy traffic ahead and Rivera-Medina’s vehicle struck the rear end of her vehicle.

Dipaola was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown EMS for possible injuries. Rivera-Medina reported minor cuts on his hand but refused to be evaluated by EMS. Dipaola’s vehicle was towed.

Rivera-Medina was issued an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Grant Conduah, 49, of Danbury, operating a 2014 Ford Econoline, was traveling northbound on South Main Street, at 5:13 pm April 11. He was traveling behind a 2004 Toyota Avalon operated by Stacey Quigley, 60, of Milford. Quigley stopped at a red light at the intersection of South Main Street and Botsford Hill Road, and the front of Conduah’s vehicle hit the rear of her vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Conduah was issued a verbal warning for following too close and Quigley was issued a verbal warning for failure to renew registration.

Three Vehicle Collision

Newtown Police report Susan Haskell, 59, of Redding, operating a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550, was traveling on Mt Pleasant Road at 5:23 pm April 12. She was traveling behind a 2009 Toyota Yaris operated by Michael Townsend, 65, of Monroe, who was slowing for traffic ahead, who in turn was behind a 2020 Volvo V60 operated by Bernard Drollette, 47, of Southbury, who was stopped in traffic. Police say Haskell did not stop in time, and the front of her vehicle struck the rear of Townsend’s vehicle, which was pushed into Drollette’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Townsend’s vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.

Haskell was issued an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

BMW vs BMW

Newtown Police report Brian Pisacich, 58, of Newtown, operating a 2013 BMW X5, was traveling westbound on Taunton Lane at 7:25 pm April 12. He was traveling behind a 2015 BMW X3 operated by Edwin Santamaria, 47, of Newtown. Police say Santamaria came to a stop and the front of Pisacich’s vehicle struck the rear of his vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Pisacich was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Larceny, Identity Theft Arrest

Newtown Police report John Bratton, 64, of Bridgeport, turned himself in to the Newtown Police Department at 4:30 am April 13 on an active arrest warrant.

Bratton was charged with third-degree larceny and first-degree identity theft in connection with an incident that occurred on March 1, 2019.

Bratton was held on $25,000 bail with a court date later that day in Danbury Superior Court.

Distraction Caused Collision

Newtown Police report Daniel Hayes, 58, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Toyota Tundra, was traveling west on Mount Pleasant Road at 8:38 am April 13. Mary Worstell, 41, of Carmel, N.Y., operating a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling east on Mount Pleasant Road. As Hayes approached Reservoir Road, it crossed over the centerline and his vehicle struck Worstell’s vehicle. Officers said that Hayes told them his phone pinged and he looked down at it.

Hayes was transported to Danbury Hospital on the complaint of chest pain, and Worstell was transported with a wrist injury. Both vehicles were towed.

Hayes was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane, operation of a motor vehicle while using a cell phone, and operation of an unregistered motor vehicle.

Drove Into Ravine

Newtown Police report Miriam Desouza, 73, of Rockaway Park, N.Y., operating a 2015 Volvo S60, was stopped southbound on South Main Street at the intersection of Mile Hill Road at 12:44 pm April 13. While turning left onto Mile Hill Road, Desouza lost control of the vehicle, which traveled off the road and struck a wire guard rail, before continuing down a shallow ravine alongside the roadway.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Desouza was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Hit Deer

Newtown Police report Edward Ogden, 64, of Danbury, operating a 2021 Ram 1500, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road in the area of Walnut Tree Hill Road at 12:32 pm April 14. A deer crossed in front of Ogden’s vehicle, and the front end of his vehicle struck the animal. The deer ran into the woods.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Hit Power Line

Newtown Police report Lituma Zambrano, 37, of Danbury, operating a 2020 HINO 268A-20 delivery truck, was backing his vehicle from a driveway on Walnut Tree Hill Road at 2:20 pm April 14. The top of the roof made contact with low hanging wire connecting the house to the road. Damage was done to the wires and pole connected to the residence.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

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

Struck Signs

Newtown Police report Jose Laird, 21, of Milford, operating a 2015 Ram Chassis 550, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 3:09 am April 16. He crossed the centerline and ran off the eastbound shoulder of the roadway, striking two right curve traffic signs before coming to a stop in an embankment.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Laird was issued a verbal warning for making a restricted turn.

DUI Arrest

Newtown Police report Jose Jara, 49, of Bridgeport, was arrested at 7:26 pm April 16 on the charge of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of May 2 in Danbury Superior Court.

Arrested On DUI Charge

Newtown Police report Anastasia Rockwell, 29, of Ringwood, N.J., was arrested at 3:59 am April 17 on the charge of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of May 4.

No Registration For Construction Work

Newtown Police report Sazo Ajdinoski, 51, of Bridgeport, was arrested at 7:32 pm April 17 on the charge of offering to make home improvements without a current certificate of registration. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of May 2 in Danbury Superior Court.

DUI Arrest

Newtown Police report Jason Dumas, 50, of New Milford, was arrested at 6 pm April 18 on the charges of failure to drive in the proper lane and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released on a $1,000 bond with a court date of May 2.