Three Car Collision

Newtown Police report Gerard Vielot, 39, of Bridgeport, operating a 2019 Lexus GX, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 7:18 pm April 26. Andrew Drap, 57, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2008 Subaru Outback, was traveling northbound on South Main Street. Kelsey Ruggiri, 35, of Milford, operating a 2022 Jeep Cherokee, was traveling southbound on South Main Street behind Vielot’s vehicle. Vielot crossed the double yellow line and struck Drap’s vehicle. Drap’s vehicle was sent into the southbound lane where it struck Ruggiri’s vehicle. Vielot’s vehicle continued southbound on South Main Street before traveling off the left hand side of the roadway, striking a tree and coming to rest in the parking lot of 137 South Main Street.

A passenger in Drap’s vehicle was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. All three vehicles were towed.

Vielot was issued an infraction for failure to drive right.

Police Chase

Newtown Police report Alano Dossantos, 25, of Danbury, operating a 2020 Ford Transit, was attempting to elude police westbound on Church Hill Road in the area of Hawley Elementary School on May 10. A traffic agent at the school stopped traffic. A 2013 Toyota Rav4 operated by Ixelly Salazar-Garcia, 31, of Danbury, stopped for the agent along with several other vehicles. Dossantos attempted to pass them and struck Salazar-Garcia’s vehicle. Dossantos continued without stopping.

No injuries were reported. Salazar-Garcia’s vehicle was not towed.

The incident is still under investigation.

Struck Rock Wall

Newtown Police report James Reppucci, 69, of Easton, operating a 2005 Ford F250, was traveling southbound on Eden Hill Road at 4:53 pm May 10. Reppucci crossed over the yellow centerline, through the northbound lane of traffic, over the grass on the northbound shoulder, and crashed into a rock wall. After the vehicle struck the wall, it continued to travel straight and became stuck on the top of the wall with all four tires off the ground.

Reppucci was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected serious injury. The vehicle was towed.

The incident is still under investigation.

BMW Hits Toyota

Newtown Police report Keith Erwin, 60, of Bethel, operating a 2014 BMW 3 Series, was traveling northbound on Elm Drive at the intersection of Sugar Street at 8:38 am May 15. Nathan Hannan, 32, of Bethel, operating a 2005 Toyota Tundra, was traveling eastbound on Sugar Street. Erwin entered the eastbound traveling lane on Sugar Street when it was unsafe to do so and the front of his vehicle made contact with the rear of Hannan’s vehicle, in spite of the fact that Hannan made an attempt to avoid contact with Erwin’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Erwin was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Improper Turn

Newtown Police report Kendall Fiorillo, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2020 BMW 530, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 10:59 am May 15. Joshua Calderon, 18, of South Windsor, was traveling southbound on South Main Street. Fiorillo attempted to turn towards Country Club Road when her vehicle struck Calderon’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Fiorillo was issued an infraction for making an improper turn.

Failure To Yield Right Of Way At Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Mackenzie Hanson, 18, of Monroe, operating a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta, was stopped in the northbound left turn lane on Glover Avenue at 11:24 am May 15. Kenneth Ballard, 17, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Ford Mustang, was traveling southbound on Queen Street approaching Glover Avenue. As Ballard approached the intersection, Hanson drove into the intersection, colliding with Ballard’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Hanson was issued an infraction for failure to yield right of way at a stop sign.

Rear-Ended On Mt Pleasant

Newtown Police report Alex Cooke, 24, of Danbury, operating a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 3:41 pm May 15. She was traveling behind a 2017 Toyota Tundra operated by Dalia Ghossaini, 39, of Newtown. Ghossaini stopped for traffic while approaching the intersection with Old Bethel Road. Cooke did not stop in time and collided with the rear of Ghossaini’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Cooke was issued a written warning for following too close.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Stephanie Kasmin, 44, of Southbury, operating a 2021 Honda Pilot, was turning left onto Sugar Street from Elm Street at 3:58 pm May 15. Erin Ferraro, 56, of Woodbury, operating a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, was traveling eastbound on Sugar Street. Kasmin struck Ferraro’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Kasmin was issued an infraction for failure to yield right of way at a stop sign. Ferraro was issued a verbal warning for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Illegal Pass

Newtown Police report Calisto Yepez, 62, of Danbury, operating a 2015 Honda Civic, was traveling southbound on Main Street at 5:38 am May 16. She was traveling behind a 2022 Mack LR tractor trailer operated by William Marques, 40, of Danbury. Marques attempted to turn left onto Currituck Road, and Yepez crossed the centerline to travel southbound in the northbound travel lane in an attempt to pass, and struck Marques’ vehicle.

Yepez was transported to Danbury Hospital for a suspected minor injury. Yepez’s vehicle was towed.

Yepez was issued an infraction for passing in a no passing zone.

Bus Backs Into Tree

Newtown Police report Amanda Stewart, 36, of Newtown, operating a 2017 Blue Bird school bus, was backing down Turkey Roost Road and then northbound onto Kaechele Drive at 3:03 pm May 16. The vehicle backed into a tree.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Rear-Ended On Platts Hill

Newtown Police report David Da Rocha, 20, of Danbury, operating a 2012 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling eastbound on Platts Hill Road at 5:10 pm May 16. Yvonne Lunney, 45, of Stamford, operating a 2016 Toyota Highlander, was traveling eastbound on Platts Hill Road ahead of Da Rocha. Da Rocha was traveling too close and struck the rear of Lunney’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Da Rocha’s vehicle was towed.

Da Rocha was issued an infraction for following too close and a written warning for operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held mobile device.

Collided During Turn

Newtown Police report John Boxberger, 44, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Subaru Outback, was in the driveway of 79 South Main Street waiting to make a right turn onto South Main Street at 10:06 am May 17. Sherri Gillotti, 65, of New Fairfield, operating a 2015 Hyundai Tucson, was stopped in the southbound travel lane of South Main Street, waiting for traffic to clear to make a left turn into 77 South Main Street. Gillotti began making a left turn when Boxberger started making a right turn. The two vehicles collided.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Boxberger was issued a written warning for failure to grant right of way from a driveway.

Ambulance Pull Over Leads To Collision

Newtown Police report Suliaman Wardag, 20, of Slingerlands, N.Y., operating a 2009 Toyota Rav4, was heading eastbound on Wasserman Way in the rightmost lane. He was traveling behind a 2023 Tesla Model Y operated by Marina Lavaredas, 48, of Monroe. Both vehicles stopped at the light, where right on red is authorized. Lavaredas turned right to merge into the southbound lane of Berkshire Road when an ambulance traveling with lights and sirens activated came into the area, traveling southbound on Berkshire Road. Lavaredas stopped to let the ambulance pass and Wardag, who also turned right onto Berkshire Road, rear-ended her.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Wardag was issued a verbal warning for failure to travel an unreasonable distance apart.

DUI Arrest

Newtown Police report on May 18, officers served an arrest warrant for Tristan Powell, 25, of New Haven, for a motor vehicle collision that occurred in 2023. Powell was charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Powell was released on a promise to appear and issued a court date of May 27 in Danbury Superior Court.

Forgery Charges

Newtown Police arrested Edward Pratte, 42, of Southington, on May 20, on the charges of two counts of criminal attempt at first-degree larceny, and two counts of second-degree forgery.

The arrest follows a complaint from a resident that Pratte had provided two fraudulent documents to an investment firm in Newtown in an attempt to obtain funds from the resident’s deceased family member’s account.

After an extensive investigation, police obtained a warrant and Pratte turned himself in.

Pratte posted a $20,000 bond with a court date of June 12 in Danbury Superior Court.