Failure To Obey Stop Sign

Newtown police report that a school bus owned by All-Star Transportation and operated by Bethany K. Cruson, 36, of Newtown, collided with a passenger vehicle around 12:41 pm Thursday, January 22.

The bus made a left turn from Queen Street onto Mile Hill Road. A 2008 Toyota Highlander being operated by Earle L. Sims, 78, of Newtown, was traveling westbound on Mile Hill Road, when the bus pulled in front of him.

Cruson told police she observed the clearly posted stop sign at the end of Queen Street. She believed there was enough space for her to make the turn safely, she said.

The driver side of the bus, a 2019 Blue Bird BBCV3310S, was struck by the front of the Highlander.

No injuries were reported to either driver, a passenger in the Highlander, nor any of the ten passengers on the bus at the time of the crash.

Cruson was given a verbal warning for failure to obey a stop sign.

Honda vs Cadillac

Police report that a 2020 Cadillac XT4 being operated by Mary O’Keefe, 78, of New Fairfield, was struck from behind on January 25, by a 2013 Honda Accord Sport being operated by Eryk R. Fancher, 17, of Bethel.

Both vehicles were traveling eastbound on Dodgingtown Road around 7:33 am. The Cadillac stopped at the traffic signal at the intersection of Dodgingtown Road and Jacklin Road. The Honda then struck the Cadillac.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and were not injured.

The Honda sustained minor damage to the front bumper and the Cadillac sustained minor damage to the back bumper. Both were able to leave the scene without a tow.

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

Restricted Turn

A 2007 Nissan Altima being operated by Meghan E. Dobbs, 20, of Trumbull, was traveling north on New Lebbon Road around 2:49 pm, Tuesday, January 26.

While negotiating a curve in the road near Aspen Lane, Dobbs lost control of the vehicle on the slippery roadway. The Altima skidded off of the right side of the roadway, traveled approximately ten feet, then made contact with a downed tree, which stopped the vehicle.

Dobbs was wearing a seat belt. The vehicle’s airbag did not deploy, and Dobbs was not injured.

She was given a verbal warning for making a restricted turn.

Verbal Warning

A street sign and stop sign were damaged last week after a driver briefly lost control of her vehicle.

According to the police report, Taylor M. Daniels, 27, of Sandy Hook, was operating a 2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring eastbound on Botsford Hill Road around 7:39 pm, January 26. Daniels told police that as she began to travel downhill near the intersection of Swamp Road, the SUV began to slide.

Daniels was unable to regain control of the vehicle, so she attempted to turn her wheels to the right, to turn into Swamp Road. The Mazda continued to slide, and struck a curb. It continued off the road, striking the street sign and stop sign post for Swamp Road before coming to rest on the grass.

The Mazda sustained minor driver door damage, but Daniels was able to drive it away from the scene.

She was wearing her seat belt, and the vehicle’s airbag did not deploy.

Daniels was given a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Two-Vehicle Collision

Jason R. Gagner, 31, of Stratford, was operating a 1998 Buick Century Custom southbound on Toddy Hill Road around 8:56 pm, January 26. Snow was falling and the roadway was covered with precipitation.

Near the intersection with Turnberry Lane, Gagner witnessed a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu begin to slide. Rosario Luis Adames, 20, of Danbury, was operating the Chevrolet. He told police he had been attempting to negotiate a right hand turn, but lost control of the vehicle on the slippery road.

Gagner moved his vehicle to the rightmost extreme in his lane, hoping to avoid a collision.

The Chevrolet crossed the center line and struck the Buick head-on. Both vehicles sustained heavy front left bumper, quarter panel, and front left tire damage, and were towed from the scene due to damage.

No injuries were reported.

Adames was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Gagner was issued a misdemeanor summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Berkshire Rollover

Arbor Komani, 27, of Derby, was traveling eastbound in the area of 98 Berkshire Road around 11:14 pm, January 26. It was snowing at the time, and the roadway was slush covered, according to the police report. Komani was operating a 2010 BMW 328xi.

Komani lost control of the vehicle while navigating a left turn in the road. The BMW began to slide sideways, then traveled onto the end of a metal guardrail, which then caused the vehicle to go airborne and overturn.

The vehicle continued traveling off road, parallel with the guardrail, on its roof, striking a tree before coming to rest against a large stone wall.

The sedan had significant damage to its front passenger side in addition to damage from overturning.

Komani had been wearing a seat belt, and the car’s airbag system deployed. Komani had minor injuries to his hand and head but refused an ambulance.

He was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Too Fast For Conditions

A Stratford resident was issued a pair of infractions following a single-vehicle collision on January 27, around 8:25 am.

Santana Jones, 31, was operating a 2001 Toyota Corolla northbound on Hattertown Road in the area of Boggs Hill Road. According to the police report, Jones was traveling too fast for conditions. The Corolla went off the road and east shoulder, stopping in a ditch.

Jones was wearing a seat belt, and the vehicle’s airbag did not deploy. No injuries were reported.

The vehicle was towed, and Jones was issued infractions for operating an unregistered vehicle and making a restricted turn.

Following Too Closely

A White Plains, N.Y., resident was given a verbal warning last week for following too closely after the vehicle he was operating struck the rear of a vehicle that had stopped in front of him.

According to the police report, a 2013 Toyota Corolla being operated by Britney N. Guachun, 19, of Danbury, was turning right from the end of the I-84 Exit 9 off-ramp onto Hawleyville Road around 5:42 pm, January 27. At the same time, Victor Griffith, 30, of White Plains, operating a 2008 Mazda 3, was traveling down the off ramp behind the Toyota.

As the Toyota began to proceed onto Hawleyville Road, the Mazda’s front bumper struck the rear bumper of the Toyota.

There were no injuries, and neither vehicle needed to be towed.

Mail Theft

Newtown police report that between 11 am Friday, January 29, and 11 am, Saturday, January 30, an unknown person(s) removed property from a residential mailbox in Sandy Hook.

The stolen item is a 2 terabyte One World Computing Envoy Pro Electron USB-C portable hard drive valued at $392.

Anyone with information regarding the theft should contact Officer John McCluskey at Newtown Police Department, 203-426-5841.

Disabling Damage

Natalya R. Weiler, 21, of Seymour, was traveling eastbound on Meadow Brook Road, operating a 1995 Honda Accord EX, around 10:23 am, February 1.

Weiler reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to snow on the roadway, causing the Honda to slide off the eastbound shoulder of the roadway and strike a tree with its right front bumper.

No injuries were reported to Weiler or a passenger with her. The Honda was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.

Weiler was given a verbal warning for making a restricted turn.

Pocketbook Taken

Around midday February 2, a pocketbook was taken from an unlocked motor vehicle parked at Treadwell Park, 53 Philo Curtis Road, while the owner was away from the vehicle.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity is asked to contact Newtown Police Department, 203-426-5841, and reference Case 2012-1352.

Failure To Grant Right Of Way

A 2011 Toyota Tundra Double Cab pickup truck being operated by Ali M. Shaham, 47, of Sandy Hook, was stopped in the exit of the commercial driveway of 40-42 High Bridge Road, waiting to cross over High Bridge Road into the residential driveway of 39 High Bridge Road, around 4:43 pm, February 2.

At the same time, a 2019 Volvo XC90 T5 luxury wagon being operated by Megan W. Gagnon, 44, of Sandy Hook, was traveling eastbound on High Bridge Road, negotiating a slight downhill left curve. As the Volvo approached the driveway of 40-42 High Bridge Road, the Toyota attempted to cross High Bridge Road.

The driver side front end of the pickup then struck the passenger side of the Volvo, which then spun approximately 180 degrees clockwise. The impact forced the Volvo across the westbound travel lane of High Bridge Road and off the westbound shoulder, where its rear end hit a mailbox and snowbank on the property of 39 High Bridge Road.

No injuries were reported to either driver nor the passengers, one in each vehicle.

Shaham was given a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way-private road/driveway.