Evading Driver In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report that an unoccupied 2014 Chevrolet Suburban owned by Joanna Rosen of Newtown was parked in a lot of Club 24, 266 South Main Street, before midnight on November 15. When Rosen returned to the vehicle, they found visible damage to the front driver’s side quarter panel and bumper. A witness left a note with the license plate and description of the vehicle as it left the scene.

Newtown officers located the suspect vehicle but observed no damage to any part of the vehicle from a sideswipe type incident. Cameras from surrounding businesses do not reach into the parking lot.

Struck In Intersection

Newtown Police report Sienna Cummings, 24, of Newtown, operating a 2021 Mazda CX-5 Touring, was stopped at the intersection of Hawley Road and South Main Street at 7:52 am November 17. Jane Luongo, 59, of Newtown, operating a 2022 Nissan Sentra, was traveling with backed up traffic southbound on South Main Street. Cummings attempted to turn left onto South Main Street in front of Luongo’s vehicle and struck Luongo’s vehicle.

Cummings reported minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital. Luongo was transported to Danbury Hospital with a possible injury. Both vehicles were towed.

Cummings was issued an infraction for failure to yield right of way while turning left.

Crossed From Far Lane

Newtown Police report Catherine Chalpin, 39, of Wappingers Fall, N.Y., operating a 2016 Audi A8, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road in the through lane at 8:43 am November 20. Marcio Almeida-Castro, 40, of Danbury, operating a 2018 Ford F450, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road in the left turn only lane in the same area. Chalpin attempted to turn left into a parking lot and crossed the left turn lane when it was unsafe to do so. The front of Almeida-Castro’s vehicle struck the rear of Chalpin’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Chalpin was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Struck Mailbox

Newtown Police report that some time between 10:30 pm and 7 am on November 20 through 21, a red Mazda vehicle pulled into a driveway on Mt Pleasant Road and struck the mailbox and post. The vehicle then pulled out of the driveway and left the scene. The Mazda sustained damage to the front or rear bumper.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

Too Fast For Conditions

Newtown Police report Chiguano Ugsha, 30, of Bethel, operating a 2010 Acura TSX, was traveling northbound on Swamp Road at 10:52 am November 22. While negotiating a left hand curve in the road, Ugsha continued straight, leaving the roadway and striking a tree.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Ugsha was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license and traveling too fast for conditions.

Struck Railroad Bridge

Newtown Police report Kenneth Wagner, 69, of Riverside, Calif., operating a 2024 IHC box truck, was traveling southbound on Botsford Hill Road at 3:50 pm November 22. The front section and top of the truck compartment struck the Housatonic Railroad bridge structure.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Wagner was issued a written warning for failure to obey signs and markings.

Hit Deer

Newtown Police report Thomas Isidori, 51, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Cadillac CT6, was traveling westbound on Sugar Street at 10:12 am November 24. A deer crossed the eastbound lane into the westbound lane and struck the front section of Isidori’s vehicle.

Isidori was not injured. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action.

Struck Building Twice

Newtown Police report Judith Qualey, 79, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Toyota Camry, was attempting to pull into a parking spot in front of M&T Bank at 6 Queen Street at 10:27 am November 24. Qualey hit the gas instead of the brake and struck the front of the building. Qualey then backed the vehicle up and tried to pull forward again, hit the gas instead of the brake and struck the front of Newtown Nail Spa. Both impacts caused major structural damage to the building.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Qualey’s driver’s license was seized and returned to the DMV.

Pictures from this incident were printed in the November 28 issue of The Newtown Bee.

Conflicting Statements

Newtown Police report Javier Rodriguez, 26, of Meriden, operating a 2025 Kia K4, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 11:01 am November 24. Texroy Scott, 38, of Ansonia, operating a 2024 Toyota Camry, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road. Both vehicles collided with each other near the double yellow lines near Zoar Road.

Both Rodriguez and Scott were transported to Danbury Hospital with suspected injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Officers were unable to determine fault due to conflicting statements.

Struck Deer

Newtown Police report Corey Dewitt, 36, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling westbound on Taunton Hill Road at 2:25 pm November 24. A deer entered the roadway and was struck by Dewitt’s vehicle, killing the animal.

Dewitt was not injured. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action.

Ran Off Road, Struck Tree

Newtown Police report Batallas Bermudez, 27, of Danbury, operating a 2010 Subaru Forester, was traveling southbound on Hattertown Road at 5:31 am November 25. While negotiating a right hand curve in the road, Bermudez attempted to make a left turn onto Castle Meadow Road and ran off the roadway, striking a tree.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Bermudez was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Both Drivers Injured

Newtown Police report Magalie Vilme, 65, of Ansonia, operating a 2014 Toyota Rav4, was traveling northbound on Toddy Hill Road at 8:15 am November 25. She was traveling behind a 2017 Mazda CX-5 operated by Nokwazi Mangele, 45, of Waterbury. Mangele stopped for a school bus and Vilme rear-ended his vehicle.

Both operators were transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

The incident is still under investigation.

Passing On The Right

Newtown Police report Andrew Stinson, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Audi S4, was traveling northbound on Mt Pleasant Road in a section with two northbound lanes at 1:38 pm November 25. He was traveling behind a 2014 Subaru Impreza operated by Jonas Campe, 49, of Bethel. Stinson moved into the right lane and began to pass Campe. The two lanes ended and began to merge into one. As Stinson passed, he made contact with Campe’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Campe’s vehicle was towed.

Stinson was issued a verbal warning for passing on the right.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Randy Gonzalez, 37, of Cheshire, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling eastbound on Sugar Street at 5:28 pm November 25. He was traveling behind a 2022 Volkswagen Taos operated by Matthew Serpliss, 25, of Bethel. Serpliss stopped in traffic and Gonzalez did not stop in time, rear-ending Serpliss’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Gonzalez was given a verbal warning for following too close.

Reckless Driving Charge

Newtown Police report that at 7:39 pm November 25, officers responded to a motor vehicle accident on Berkshire Road near Jordan Hill Road. Upon arrival, an investigation was conducted, and the operator of the at fault vehicle, Randy Gonzalez, 37, of Cheshire, was taken into custody. Gonzalez was transported to Newtown Police Department and charged with reckless driving, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and following too close.

Gonzalez was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond, which he was unable to post. He was given a court date of November 26 in Danbury Superior Court.

Struck Trees

Newtown Police report Nathaniel Wheeler, 22, of Newtown, operating a 2011 Honda Pilot, was taking a left turn from Palestine Road onto Galilee Way at 6:14 pm November 28. The vehicle left the roadway and struck several trees. Wheeler left the scene, but went home and reported the incident.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Hit By Bridge Rail

Newtown Police report David Kulp, 68, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2016 Ford F450, was attempting to exit a driveway on Saw Mill Road when the bridge rail collapsed and struck the vehicle at 4:01 pm November 30.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

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