Improper Merge

Newtown Police report Paige Benway, 16, of Monroe, operating a 2011 Honda Civic, was traveling southbound on South Main Street in one of two lanes at 8:50 pm March 26. Sophyia Ruppell, 17, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Ford Escape, was traveling southbound on South Main Street in the other lane. When the two lanes merged, Benway’s vehicle sideswiped Ruppell’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Rear-Ended On Hawleyville

Newtown Police report Victoria Murren, 57, of Brookfield, operating a 2014 Kia Sorrento, was traveling on Mt Pleasant Road approaching the intersection of Hawleyville Road at 9:32 am March 28. Richard Sarfo, 27, of Ansonia, operating a 2024 Toyota Rav4, stopped at the intersection ahead of Murren to wait to make a right hand turn. Murren did not stop in time and rear-ended Sarfo’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Collision Spins Vehicle, Injures Driver

Newtown Police report Donna Djonne, 65, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2012 Cadillac SRX, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road at 2:02 pm March 30. John Berger, 82, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2015 Mazda 6, was traveling southbound on Edmond Road. Djonne entered the intersection of Church Hill Road and Edmond Road while the light was still red, and Berger entered the intersection with a green light. Djonne struck Berger’s vehicle. Djonne’s vehicle came to a rest on the eastbound shoulder of Church Hill Road and Commerce Road. The impact caused Berger’s vehicle to travel southbound toward Commerce Road and spin around, coming to rest facing northbound in the northbound travel lane of Commerce Road.

Berger was transported to Danbury Hospital for unknown injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Djonne was issued an infraction for failure to obey a traffic signal and a warning for having an expired registration.

Two Injured In Collision

Newtown Police report Vallejo Umana, 17, of Bridgeport, operating a 2012 Honda CR-V, was traveling on Botsford Hill Road at 4:10 pm March 31. He was traveling behind a 2014 Nissan Altima operated by Emily Desgro, 19, of New Milford, who was stopped at the intersection with South Main Street. Umana did not stop in time and rear-ended Desgro’s vehicle.

Both operators complained of neck pain and were transported to Danbury Hospital. Neither vehicle was towed.

Umana was issued an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Collision At Exit 10

Newtown Police report Cesar Rios, 68, of Southbury, operating a 2014 Ford Edge, was traveling on Church Hill Road at 5:04 pm April 1, attempting to turn left into the Blue Colony Diner. Sean Lawrence, 40, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Toyota Tacoma, was traveling in the right turn only lane on Church Hill Road to enter the Interstate 84 exit 10 on-ramp. Rios’ vehicle was struck by Lawrence’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Rios’ vehicle was towed.

Rios was issued an infraction for failing to yield right of way while making a left-hand turn.

Threatening Charges

Newtown Police report that the department received a complaint of a threat received via text message at 6:10 pm April 2.

After an investigation, officers arrested Lyle Vetare, 26, of Sandy Hook, who was charged with two counts of second-degree threatening. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of April 16.

Struck Utility Pole

Newtown Police report Dennis Salzbrunn, 32, of Ridgefield, operating a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 3:26 pm April 7. Salzbrunn swerved off the right side of the road and struck a utility pole.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.