Verbal Warning

Newtown Police report a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring minivan being operated by Shelly S. Chandler, 48, of Bethel, was traveling southbound on Hattertown Road, near Sugar Street, around 7:28 am, Wednesday, June 2. The minivan was traveling behind a 2015 Hyundai Elantra SE sedan being operated by Rosemary C. Lefflbine, 76, of Danbury.

As the vehicles approached the intersection with Sugar Street, the sedan stopped due to a tractor-trailer truck starting to make a left turn.

Chandler attempted to stop the minivan with enough distance but was unable to, and the front end of her vehicle hit the rear of the sedan.

There was minor damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported to either driver nor the two passengers with Chandler.

Chandler was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Car vs Motorcycle

On Wednesday, June 2, at approximately 11 am, Newtown Police, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a paramedic, and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company responded to a car vs motorcycle collision at 166 Mt Pleasant Road.

Following an investigation by Newtown Police, it was determined that a 2021 Subaru Forester Touring compact SUV being operated by Jill Gureasko, 74, of Newtown, pulled out of 166 Mt Pleasant Road in front of a 2008 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic motorcycle operated by David E. Bunnell, 65, of Monroe. The motorcycle had been traveling westbound when it collided with the SUV.

Bunnell was transported by EMS to the hospital for suspected serious injuries.

Gureasko was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at a private driveway.

Failure To Maintain Lane

Newtown Police, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and Botsford Fire Rescue all responded to Castle Meadow Road near Maltbie Road around 6:25 pm, Thursday, June 10, after a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4-matic sedan that had been traveling north crashed into a utility pole.

According to police, Edna M. Ostendorf, 85, of Sandy Hook, was traveling north on Castle Meadow Road when she stopped for the stop sign at the intersection with Maltbie.

Ostendorf told police that as she was accelerating up the hill, a southbound vehicle passed her at a high rate of speed and looked like it was not going to stop at the stop sign. She stated that she swerved to avoid the vehicle, which caused her to hit the utility pole.

Following an investigation on scene, it was determined that Ostendorf overcorrected and turned directly into the utility pole. The pole was snapped at the base and displaced as a result of the sedan striking it.

Ostendorf sustained injuries to her lower legs and was transported to the hospital.

She was given a verbal warning for failure to maintain lane.

Car Hits Utility Pole

Newtown Police report a 2007 Pontiac G6 sedan being operated by Marcus W. Schulze, 68, of Newtown, was traveling northbound on Taunton Hill Road around 6:40 pm, Thursday, June 10.

While navigating into a right-hand curve around Birch Hill Road, the sedan left the northbound lane and crossed over the southbound lane. The sedan then drove onto the southbound shoulder and the left front section of the car struck an Eversource utility pole.

The car continued traveling on the southbound shoulder, striking a tree and then a stone wall, where it came to rest.

Schulze sustained injuries to his head and his left arm. Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported Schulze to the hospital.

Dodgingtown and Hook & Ladder fire companies also responded to the crash.

The incident is still under investigation.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police responded to a two-vehicle non-injury collision around 2:23 pm, Tuesday, June 15, on South Main Street just north of Swamp Road.

Police state that a 2012 GMC Sierra K being operated by Alex Radocchia, 24, of Monroe, and a 2016 Toyota Camry LE being operated by Courtland Moses, 34, of Middletown, were both traveling north.

The Camry had slowed and signaled to turn left when the Sierra rear-ended it.

There were no injuries to either driver nor a passenger in the Camry.

Police issued Radocchia a verbal warning for following too close.

Highway Crash

Connecticut State Police report a 2000 Honda Civic LX, operated by Hany M. Makar, 48, of Waterbury, was traveling on I-84 East approximately one-half mile west of Exit 10 around 4:37 pm, Thursday, June 17.

The Honda stopped for heavy traffic conditions near the Currituck Road overpass and a 2013 Ford Edge, operated by Edwin M. Moreta, 43, of Edison, N.J., was unable to stop, resulting in the Ford striking the rear of the Honda.

Hawleyville Fire Company and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded to the scene. There were no injuries reported.

Moreta was given a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart, resulting in a motor vehicle accident.

Two Infractions

Newtown Police report a 2012 Chrysler Town Car being operated by Stacy Osowski, 49, of Thomaston, was traveling southbound on Mt Pleasant Road around 6:02 pm, Thursday, June 17.

Passengers in the Chrysler stated that they heard an emergency vehicle approach their vehicle from behind them. Osowski told police she then looked in her rear view mirror and observed a vehicle with flashing blue lights approaching from the rear. Osowski stated that she moved her vehicle over to the far right extreme, put her right blinker on, and stopped.

Meanwhile, a 2015 Infiniti Qx60 being operated by Connor Breslin, 18, of Newtown, was traveling behind the Chrysler. Breslin stated he was following the Chrysler when he observed the vehicle pull over to the right for no apparent reason. He stated that he began to pass the Chrysler on the left because it was pulled over on the side of the road.

At the same time, a 2006 Ford Expedition operated by Miles Ball, 19, of Newtown, was also traveling southbound on Mt Pleasant Road. Ball was en route to an active fire call and had his vehicle’s flashing blue and amber lights activated. Ball told police he was also utilizing an air horn which was equipped in his vehicle as well. Ball did not have a permit for a siren or audible warning device.

The Ford began to pass the Chrysler but collided with the Infiniti, which, due to the impact, caused the Infiniti to then strike the Chrysler.

The Ford sustained moderate front right bumper/quarter panel damage and was disabled in the middle of the road due to the damage.

The Chrysler sustained minor front left quarter panel/tire damage.

The Infiniti sustained moderate front left and right quarter panel damage as well as front bumper damage.

Osowski and the front right passenger in the Chrysler sustained minor injuries and reported lower back pain; Osowski also reported neck pain. No other injuries were reported.

Ball was issued infractions for unsafe passing and illegal use of a siren.

Rental Truck vs Honda

Newtown Police report a 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring sedan being operated by Philip R. Crevier, 64, of Newtown, was traveling north on South Main Street around 11:32 am, Thursday, June 18.

While Crevier was passing through the intersection of South Main Street and Pecks Lane, a 2017 Isuzu NPR truck owned by Ryder Truck Rental, being operated by Rudolfo Rivera, 40, of Bridgeport, struck the Honda.

The Isuzu had been traveling west on Pecks Lane. At the intersection with South Main Street, the rental truck turned left, in front of the Honda. The truck hit the front passenger side fender area of the Honda.

Rivera told police that Crevier was on a cellphone at the time of the crash. Crevier said he was not on his phone.

Rivera further told the responding police officers that an unidentified, uninvolved vehicle had flashed its lights, indicating to him that it was clear to proceed with the left hand turn.

There were no injuries.

The Honda was towed due to disabling damage. The truck was driven from the scene.

Rivera was issued a written warning for failure to grant a right of way-left hand turn.