Pilot Vs Outback

Sandy Hook resident Sarah Z. Desouza, 17, was issued a written warning for a stop sign violation following a collision just before noon on February 19 at the intersection of Walnut Tree Hill and Old Green roads.

According to the police report, Desouza was operating a Honda Pilot SUV southbound on Walnut Tree Hill Road approaching the stop sign at the intersection. At the same time, Paulette M. Calderone, 71, of Sandy Hook, operating a Subaru Outback northbound, had stopped at the intersection stop sign. The Subaru then proceeded into the intersection when it was struck by the Honda.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue responded to the scene along with Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps volunteers who evaluated Calderone after police say she reported neck and back pain. Calderone ultimately refused further medical care on scene.

(NOTE: This report ran with errors in last week’s print edition. It has been updated here.)

Dragged Against Parked Car

Newtown Police report Madison Pape, 17, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2014 Mazda CX-5, was pulling into a parking spot on Queen Street at 9:13 am February 22. Police said there was not enough space to pull into the spot and the front driver’s side bumper dragged against the driver’s side of a 2022 Honda Pilot owned by Edgard Rubi of Albany, N.Y.

No injuries were reported.

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

Following Too Closely

Newtown Police report Timothy Vigneau, 19, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2004 BMW X3, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 10:30 pm February 22. He was traveling behind a 2015 Ford Fiesta operated by Luis Vega, 22, of Shelton. The front of Vigneau’s vehicle hit the rear of Vega’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Vigneau was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Struck Tree

Newtown Police report Thomas Juul, 65, of West Haven, operating a 2015 Nissan Altima, was traveling westbound on Sugar Street at 5:21 am February 23, when the Nissan’s front bumper struck a tree that was obstructing the roadway. Police say the vehicle continued traveling westbound, resulting in more damage to the vehicle along its passenger’s side, before coming to a stop.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Hit Pole After Swerve

Newtown Police report Sueli Desousa-Santos, 39, of Danbury, operating a 2017 Honda CR-V, was traveling westbound on Jeremiah Road in the westbound travel lane at 1:48 pm February 23. Police say Desousa-Santos told police that another, uninvolved vehicle swerved into her lane of travel and that she swerved right to avoid a collision, leaving the roadway and striking a utility pole.

Desousa-Santos was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown EMS. The vehicle was towed.

Desousa-Santos was given a verbal warning for failing to maintain a lane.

Ambulance Hit Police Cruiser

Newtown Police report Michelle Greenspan, 50, of Sandy Hook, was operating a 2019 Ford Econoline E450 Super from the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps on Jeremiah Road at 2:06 pm February 23 while passing a Newtown Police cruiser parked alongside of the road with its emergency lights activated at the scene of a previous collision. Police say while attempting to pass by the cruiser, the Ford struck the left side mirror and front left area of the NPD vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Greenspan was issued a verbal warning for unsafe passing.

Passed Out At Wheel

Newtown Police report George Geanuracos, 58, of Newtown, operating a 2006 Jaguar XJ8, was traveling northeast on Huntingtown Road at 5:55 pm February 24. Geanuracos told police while driving, he became ill and passed out behind the wheel, causing the vehicle to run off the road and strike a utility pole.

Police said that despite claiming to have fallen ill during the incident, Geanuracos declined transport. His vehicle was towed.

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

Hit Mailbox, Ended In Ditch

Newtown Police report Matheus Dematos-Jitkoski, 25, of Danbury, operating a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, was traveling south on Pine Tree Hill Road at 1:03 pm February 25. While negotiating a left-hand curve in the roadway, police say Dematos-Jitkoski lost traction and ran off the roadway, hitting a mailbox before coming to rest in a ditch.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Dematos-Jitkoski was issued a warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Skidded On Ice

Newtown Police report Jayda Tobin, 21, of Bridgeport, operating a 1998 Toyota Corolla, was traveling northbound on Huntingtown Road at 1:21 pm February 25. The vehicle began skidding in the roadway in icy conditions and the front right corner of the vehicle collided with a guardrail.

Tobin complained of a sore back but declined transport. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Hit And Run

Newtown Police report that an unknown vehicle was possibly traveling north on Cobblestone Lane sometime around 8 pm February 25, when it left the roadway into a lawn, striking a lamp post. The vehicle then returned to the roadway and left the scene without reporting the incident. Police say the resident of the home reported hearing a loud noise outside his residence.

No evidence to identify the suspect vehicle was left at the scene.

Fell Asleep At Wheel

Connecticut State Police report that Henrique Albetelho, 23, of Danbury, operating a 2001 Volkswagen Golf, was traveling in the center lane of three on Interstate 84 westbound, east of exit 10 in Newtown at 3:44 am February 26, and fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle traveled off the roadway into the right shoulder, continued into a grass area and overturned onto its roof.

Albetelho was evaluated by Newtown EMS but refused transport. The vehicle was towed.

Albetelho was issued an infraction for failure to maintain a lane and for operating without a driver’s license.