Newtown Police Department has announced no charges will be filed in the accidental death last year of a longtime Newtown resident.

Peter Blomberg, 72, was in a crosswalk on Church Hill Road, immediately east of Dayton Street, around 6:15 pm Monday, October 28, 2024, when he was struck by a vehicle traveling west on that roadway. The assistant chief of Botsford Fire Rescue, Blomberg was walking toward a restaurant where the annual Board of Fire Commissioners meeting was to be held that evening. He was transported to Danbury Hospital but did not survive his injuries.

Patrick Conlan, 59, was operating the Toyota Tacoma that struck Blomberg. Conlan remained on the scene and Newtown Police said he was cooperative with the investigation.

The Newtown Police Department Detective Bureau and Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to conduct an investigation.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a paramedic, and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue also responded to the scene.

The investigation included diagramming the scene, obtaining search warrants, speaking to witnesses, reviewing video, and other investigative steps. The team worked closely with the State’s Attorney’s office throughout the investigation, which ultimately determined that a criminal arrest would not be made in this case.

As a result of the incident, a request was made to Newtown Public Works, which oversaw the addition of a street light to a utility pole near the crosswalk. An in-street crosswalk sign was installed at the crosswalk, and an electronic speed display sign was installed on Church Hill Road approximately 270 yards prior to a curve and the crosswalk in question to slow motorists.

Additionally, Newtown PD coordinated with CTDOT traffic engineers to review the Church Hill Road crosswalk near Dayton Street for any potential safety enhancements. The CTDOT engineering recommendation was for additional lighting, which had already been proactively installed.

In an October 30 statement, Newtown PD Chief David Kullgren said the Church Hill Road crosswalk is one of many “being reviewed as part of the Town’s Safe Streets 4 All initiative. The police department continues to focus on improving traffic and pedestrian safety through high-visibility enforcement and collaboration with like-minded state and local agencies.

“Pete Blomberg worked alongside our officers regularly as a volunteer with Botsford Fire Rescue,” the police chief continued. “Over the last year, his loss has been felt deeply by the members of our department.”

Blomberg lived 67 of his 72 years on earth in Newtown. A native of Bridgeport, his family moved to Newtown when he was 5 years old, and he lived in town for the rest of his life.

“He loved Botsford,” where he’d lived for decades, his daughters told The Newtown Bee last year.

Blomberg’s service with the town’s fire companies began “about 50 years ago,” according to longtime friend and fellow firefighter Bill McAllister.

Blomberg began his fire service career with Hawleyville Fire Company, and then continued it with United Fire Company of Botsford (now Botsford Fire Rescue), where he rose through the ranks to become first assistant chief.

“He joined Hawleyville in his younger days. He and a friend rented an apartment in Hawleyville, right next to the firehouse there, so he joined them,” McAllister told this newspaper.

Blomberg not only loved the fire service, he also loved learning about it.

“He always pursued fire education,” McAllister said last year. “We sent him to a national extrication class in Ohio one year. He loved it so much he went a second time. He took time off from work to go out there, three or four days each time, and came back with more knowledge to share.”

Blomberg eventually became a certified State Fire Instructor, leading regional Firefighter 1 and 2 classes. He also served as a certified Station Evaluator at numerous regional evaluation sites.

Through all that, he continued to be a top responder to calls. A statement issued following his death by Botsford Fire Rescue noted Blomberg’s half-century of service. The company noted their leader was until very recently “among the first responders at fire scenes to strap on an air pack and head into burning buildings. He had a spectacular record of responding to nearly all the calls for service Botsford Fire Rescue received and was often among those first on the scene at calls in other districts.”

Blomberg is survived by a brother and sister-in-law; a sister and brother-in-law; four daughters, one stepdaughter and her husband, and two sons-in-law; one grandson; nieces and nephews; and additional extended family members.

He was also “a cherished friend, colleague, and brother firefighter to countless others,” his obituary stated in part.

Blomberg’s name was one of five unveiled on the Connecticut Fallen Firefighters Memorial in September.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.