Hit Bridge Bottom

Newtown Police report Robert Chambers, 58, of Stratford, operating a 2020 International 26 foot van, was traveling eastbound on Botsford Hill Road at 8:21 pm August 25. Approaching the railroad bridge east of its intersection with Swamp Road, police say the van did not have enough vertical clearance and struck the bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Unaware Hit Parked Car

Newtown Police report Scott Gruder, 43, of Cromwell, operating a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was pulling into a parking space in the lot of Newtown Veterinary Specialists at 12:07 pm August 26. While pulling into the spot, his vehicle made contact with an unoccupied 2015 Toyota Sienna owned by Shannon Converse of Brookfield. Police say Gruder then left the area. Gruder told police he tried to fit into the spot but thought he wouldn’t fit so he backed out. He said he was unaware he made contact with the other vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Prius Hits Mercedes

Newtown Police report Kara DiMarco, 28, of Bethel, operating a 2011 Toyota Prius, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 5:28 pm August 28. She was traveling behind a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 operated by Blerim Hodza, 58, of Newtown. Police say Hodza came to a stop for stopped traffic, and DiMarco was unable to stop in time, and the front of her vehicle struck the rear of Hodza’s.

Hodza was treated on scene but declined transport. Neither vehicle was towed.

DiMarco was issued an infraction for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Construction Zone Collision

Connecticut State Police reported that a DOT crash support truck was parked and unoccupied in the right lane of two on Interstate 84 East between exits 9 and 10 at 11:34 pm August 28. Dontay Harrington, 29, of Arlington, Md., operating a 2016 Freightliner tractor, was traveling in the left lane of two and swerved right to avoid a collision with another tractor trailer, and hit the back of the crash truck.

Harrington was transported to Danbury Hospital with suspected minor injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Harrington was issued an infraction for following too close.

Didn’t Yield

Newtown Police report Jesse Sherman, 91, of Fairfield, operating a 2021 Mercedes-Benz C300, was traveling eastbound on Poverty Hollow Road at 11:45 am August 30, behind an unidentified vehicle when they approached the four-way intersection of Hattertown Road, Key Rock Road, and Poverty Hollow Road. Dorothy Schlier, 67, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Toyota Rav4, was traveling southbound on Hattertown Road when it approached the four way intersection at the same time as the other two vehicles. Police say Schlier came to a complete stop at the stop sign and yielded to the unidentified vehicle, which proceeded through the intersection. Schlier then entered the intersection, and Sherman failed to yield right of way, causing the front right bumper of his vehicle to strike the right rear bumper of Schlier’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Sherman was issued a verbal warning for failure to yield right of way at a stop sign.

Drove Into Embankment

Newtown Police report Michael Davison, 23, of New Milford, operating a 2016 Toyota Tacoma, was traveling northbound on Botsford Hill Road at 9:42 pm August 30. Davison’s vehicle went off the roadway and into an embankment.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

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

Backed Into Car

Newtown Police report that Sarah Cartagena, 17, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2006 Kia Sportage, was parked in a space in the lot of 139 Toddy Hill Road at 3:47 pm September 1. While reversing from the spot, police say she backed into an unoccupied 2019 Honda HR-V owned by Mildred Ramos of Bridgeport.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Rear-Ended On Church Hill

Newtown Police report Blanca Guzman, 69, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2000 Honda Accord, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road at 6:09 pm September 1. She was traveling behind a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Joshua Rockwell, 27, of Southbury, which was stopped in traffic. Police say the front of Guzman’s vehicle struck the rear of Rockwell’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Hit Railroad Bridge

Newtown Police report Hannah Patrick, 16, of Brookfield, operating a 1999 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling southbound on Botsford Hill Road at 8:45 pm September 1. Upon reaching a sharp right curve in the roadway, Patrick’s vehicle left its lane of travel and moved into the oncoming traffic lane, before striking a concrete railroad bridge. The weather was clear but the roadway was damp at the time.

Patrick was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected minor injury. The vehicle was towed.

Patrick was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions and failure to maintain a lane.

Gate Vandalized

On September 2, Newtown Police received a report that the gate between Turkey Hill Road and Little Brook Lane was vandalized. An investigation determined that the gate was damaged between 7 pm September 1 and 10 am September 2, with the incident possibly occurring around 11 pm on September 1.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Mulhall of the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841 or ben.mulhall@newtown-ct.gov.

Passing On Right

Newtown Police report Thomas Dixcy, 80, of Newtown, operating a 2003 Saab 9-5 Aero, was traveling northbound on Queen Street at 12:56 pm September 2. He was traveling behind a 2017 Honda CR-V operated by Daniel Kellerman, 18, of Newtown. Police say Kellerman was making a right turn into the parking lot of Newtown Middle School when Dixcy started to pass on the right. The left front section of Dixcy’s vehicle made contact with the right front section of Kellerman’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Dixcy was issued an infraction for passing on the right.

Three-Car Collision

Newtown Police report Patricia Kuckma, 69, of Stratford, operating a 2019 Ford F150, was traveling eastbound on Mount Pleasant Road at 4:10 pm September 2. She was traveling behind a 2008 Mercedes-Benz MI350 operated by Laura Halloran, 66, of Thomaston. Police say Halloran slowed down to make a left turn into 166 Mount Pleasant Road, and was rear-ended by Kuckma. Kuckma’s vehicle was then rear-ended by a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek operated by Michael Ptyza, 39, of Naugatuck.

All three drivers complained of possible injuries, but only Halloran was transported to Danbury Hospital. All three vehicles were towed.

Kuckma and Ptyza were both issued infractions for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Distracted By Bee

Newtown Police report Nathan Rodriguez, 35, of Waterbury, operating a 2010 Hyundai Sonata GLS was traveling southbound on Queen Street at 10:29 am September 3. He was traveling behind a 2016 Toyota Rav4 operated by Debra Droniak, 66, of Monroe. As the vehicles passed through the intersection with 6 Queen Street, Rodriguez said a bee flew into his window and distracted him, causing him to strike the rear of Droniak’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Rodriguez was issued an infraction for following too close.

Hit Gas Pump

Newtown Police report Stephen Isaksen, 68, of The Villages, Fla., operating a 2020 Ford F150, towing a 2021 SolAire camp trailer, was driving westbound in the parking lot of Mitchell’s Gas Station at 11:21 am September 3. While making a right turn in the parking lot, the left rear section of the trailer made contact with the gas nozzle of one of the gas pumps, causing damage.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

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

Off Road Into Tree

Newtown Police report Chantel Comerford, 31, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2017 Ram Truck 1500, was traveling westbound on Riverside Road at 7:42 pm September 3. Shortly after passing Bancroft Road, a vehicle traveling eastbound came into or close to Comerford’s lane, and Comerford swerved right to avoid a collision before running off the road. Police say Comerford’s vehicle traveled approximately 150 feet through a wooded area, hitting numerous rocks and a concrete drainage ditch before striking a tree.

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

Comerford was issued an infraction for failure to maintain the proper lane.

Evading Vehicle Sought

Newtown Police report an unoccupied 2018 Nissan Armada owned by Eileen Duggan of New Fairfield was parked in a designated parking space in the lot of 14 Church Hill Road at 11:24 am September 4. The owner said when she returned to her vehicle, she discovered damage to the left side of her vehicle’s rear bumper.

At this time, there is no information on the evading operator or vehicle. If identified, the operator will be charged with evading responsibility for property damage.

Cell Phone Found

Newtown Police report that at approximately 12:30 pm September 4, a cell phone was found in the Main Street area shortly after the annual Labor Day Parade had concluded. The phone was turned over to Newtown Police and is being held at the Newtown Police Headquarters.

The owner of the phone is asked to contact Officer Facto or Sergeant Wisentanner at 203-426-5841.