Vehicle vs Utility Pole

A 2012 Honda Civic LX being operated by Michael C. Rendino, 35, of New Milford, was traveling southbound on Saw Mill Road around 5:44 pm, Friday, February 12.

The Honda failed to negotiate a curve in the road and continued to travel straight. The Civic’s right side tires left the southbound lane and went onto snow located on the southbound shoulder of the road.

The right front section of the car then struck an Eversource utility pole that was located on the southbound shoulder.

The Honda continued to travel as the utility pole came down on top of the car.

There were no injuries reported.

The case remains under investigation.

Toddy Hill Rollover

Police responded to a one vehicle rollover at 112 Toddy Hill Road at 8:57 am, Sunday, February 14. Following an investigation, police determined that Malaysia McCrea, 25, of Danbury, was operating a 2014 Toyota Corolla northbound on Toddy Hill Road when it went off western side the roadway and struck a rock.

The impact caused the vehicle to vault in the air and overturn while in the air. The vehicle landed on its roof with the driver still inside the vehicle.

Botsford Fire Rescue, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and a paramedic all responded to the scene. McCrea was transported to the hospital by ambulance for injuries sustained from the collision.

Police issued McCrea a misdemeanor summons for driving while license is suspended, driving left of center, and traveling too fast for road conditions.

(A photo of this rollover appeared in last week’s Newtown Bee.)

Failure To Drive In Proper Lane

Newtown police report Santos Natal, 59, of Bridgeport, was operating a 2009 Jeep Liberty Limited eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road around 4:39 am, Tuesday, February 16.

While negotiating a left curve near Johnnie Cake Lane, the Jeep crossed the center line and ran off the roadway to the left. The Jeep also spun around and struck the guardrail along the side of the road, and then the mailbox of 8 Mt Pleasant Road.

No injuries were reported. Natal was wearing a seat belt.

The Jeep was towed from the scene.

Natal was given a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Too Fast For Conditions

Newtown police report that a 2017 Nissan NV 1500 van being operated by Wilfred Rodriguez, 27, of East Hartford, was traveling northbound on Mt Pleasant Road around 11:12 am, Thursday, February 18.

At the same time, a 2016 Chevrolet K1500 pickup truck being operated by Kathryn M. Burke, 36, of Newtown, which had also been traveling north on Mt Pleasant Road, was stopped at the intersection of Taunton Lake Road, waiting to turn left.

The Nissan reached the hill crest at the intersection of Mt Pleasant and Taunton Lake roads and attempted to stop to avoid a collision with the truck.

Rodriguez told police that as he reached the hill crest he observed the truck stopped up ahead. He stated he applied his brakes but they locked up. Due to slippery, snow-covered roads, Rodriguez was unable to avoid a collision.

Rodriguez turned the van’s wheels to the right to avoid a direct hit. When the van’s brakes locked up, the vehicle began skidding, which reduced the stopping power. The left rear side of the van struck the right rear side of the pickup truck.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts. No injuries were reported.

Both vehicles sustained functioning damage. Neither was towed from the crash.

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

Infraction, Verbal Warning

Members of Newtown Police Department were dispatched to the area of Walnut Tree Hill Road and Shady Rest Boulevard at 12:09 am, Friday, February 19, for a one-car motor vehicle accident.

Following a brief investigation, it was determined that David S. Taylor, 51, of Sandy Hook, had been operating a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound on Walnut Tree Hill Road near Shady Rest Boulevard. The Jeep crossed the center line and ran off the roadway left just east of Shady Rest Boulevard.

The front operator side of the vehicle then struck a tree on the eastbound shoulder of the road, struck the face of a guardrail on the eastbound shoulder of the roadway, and then came to a stop on top of the guardrail.

Taylor, who was wearing a seat belt, was not injured.

Taylor told police he was traveling very slowly but was unable to negotiate the curve in the roadway due to slippery conditions. He was issued an infraction for operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Car vs Sign

Newtown police report a 2014 BMW 435xi being operated by Bato Gjokaj, 22, of Staten Island, N.Y., was traveling southbound on Jeremiah Road around 6:52 pm, Friday, February 19.

While negotiating a curve in the roadway in extremely slick, icy conditions, Gjokaj lost control of the vehicle. The Jeep crossed the center line, went off the left side of the roadway, struck a yellow school bus advisory sign, and came to rest in a snow bank on the shoulder of the roadway.

It was unknown if Gjokaj was wearing a seat belt. There were no apparent injuries.

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

Following Too Close

While on patrol at approximately 2:12 pm, Saturday, February 20, Newtown police came upon a three-car motor vehicle accident at 75 South Main Street.

The crash involved a 1991 Mazda Miata MX-5 operated by John A. Palmer, 21, of Monroe; a 2010 Mercury Mariner Premier operated by Kathleen Tsaousis, 70, of Newtown; and a 2013 Chrysler Town & Country Touring minivan operated by Sara G. Belles, 40, of Brookfield.

There were no injuries to any of the drivers nor a passenger in the Miata.

Two of the three vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

Belles was issued an infraction for following too closely and causing an accident.