Tractor Trailer Backs Into SUV

Newtown Police report Christopher Smith, 56, of Manchester, operating a 2014 Volvo VNL7 tractor trailer, was backing up eastbound in the parking lot of 6 Queen Street at 4:41 pm April 15. The right rear of the trailer struck the driver’s side front bumper of a 2015 Jeep Wrangler owned by Erica Sullivan of Newtown.

No injuries were reported.

No action was taken as the collision occurred on private property.

Dumped Motorcycle Hits Guardrail

Newtown Police report Christopher Blagbrough, 60, of Sandy Hook, operating a 1993 Harley-Davidson FXDL, was traveling northbound on Toddy Hill Road at 3:17 pm April 17. While negotiating a curve in the road near Turnberry Lane, Blagbrough lost control of his vehicle, and the motorcycle crossed over the center line on its right side, where it made contact with the guardrail on the southbound shoulder.

EMS personnel responded, but Blagbrough stated he was not injured.

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

Lost Control On Wet Surface

Newtown Police report Russell Werlebird, 41, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2000 Toyota Tundra SR5, was traveling north on Hawleyville Road at 8:07 am April 19. While negotiating a curve in the roadway, Werlebird lost control of the vehicle on the wet surface, crossed the centerline into the opposing lane of traffic, and struck a 2002 GMC C-Series C6HO42 box truck operated by Michael McKague, 50, of New Fairfield.

After being struck by Werlebird’s vehicle, McKague’s vehicle continued southbound, left the roadway to the right and drove across a section of lawn, before making contact with a fence.

Both Werlebird and McKague were transported to Danbury Hospital. Both vehicles were towed.

Werlebird was given an infraction for failure to drive right.

NOTE: A photo of this incident was included in last week’s Police Reports.

Hits Ambulance Side Mirror

Newtown Police report Robert Foetsch, 73, of Roxbury, operating a 2015 Ford E250 Super Duty, was passing a parked 2021 Ford Econoline E350 Super ambulance in the parking lot of 164 Mt Pleasant Road at 10:53 am April 19. While passing, the passenger side of Foetsch’s vehicle made contact with the driver’s side mirror of the ambulance, damaging the mirror.

No injuries were reported. Minor damage was done to both vehicles.

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

Drives Off Curve Into Ditch

Newtown Police report Frederick Hubbard, 17, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2003 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling north on Castle Meadow Road at 11:37 pm April 19. While approaching a right curve in the roadway before Brushy Hill Road, Hubbard’s vehicle continued across the roadway into a ditch past the opposite lane of travel.

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

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Struck Tree After Fishtail

Newtown Police report Ryan Gillinger, 16, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2007 Saturn Vue AWD, was traveling westbound on Butterfield Road at 9:51 pm April 20. While negotiating a left hand curve in the road, the vehicle began to fishtail. Gillinger’s vehicle moved back and forth in the travel lane until it went onto the westbound shoulder and struck a tree.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived on scene and treated Gillinger, who refused transport to Danbury Hospital. His vehicle was towed.

Gillinger was issued a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Struck Oncoming Vehicle On Curve

Newtown Police report Ana Campanholi-Neves, 45, of Danbury, operating a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, was traveling northbound on Huntingtown Road in the area of Orchard Hill Road at 1:14 pm April 21. Jacinto Cabral, 85, of Newtown, operating a 1999 Lincoln Continental, was traveling southbound on Huntingtown Road. Both vehicles were negotiating a curve in the roadway when Campanholi-Neves’ vehicle entered the southbound lane. The driver’s side front tire of Campanholi-Neves’ vehicle made contact with the driver’s side front tire of Cabral’s vehicle, causing damage to both vehicles.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Campanholi-Neves was issued an infraction for failure to drive right on a curve.

Two Vehicles Damaged By Pole Collision

Newtown Police report Seth Miller, 46, of Roxbury, operating a 2012 GMC Terrain, was traveling southbound on South Main Street approaching Park Lane at 4:37 am April 22. Miller drove off the right side of the road, where his vehicle collided with a utility pole, breaking it into two pieces. Jose Deoliveira, 58, of Danbury, operating a 2007 Freightliner CR12 tractor trailer, was following Miller’s vehicle when the incident occurred and cable from the broken utility pole damaged his vehicle’s right side mirror, visor and other parts.

No injuries were reported.

Miller was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn and failure to wear a seat belt.

Failure To Obey Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Katherine Dowling, 20, of Southbury, operating a 2014 Honda CR-V, was traveling eastbound on Glover Avenue at 5:15 pm April 22. Ethan Shaffer, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2007 Audi A4 2.0t Quattro, was traveling southbound on Queen Street. Dowling attempted to turn left onto Queen Street, and collided with Shaffer’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Dowling was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Failed To Stop

Newtown Police report Leonard Madison, 64, of New Britain, operating a 2011 BMW 328xi, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 5:15 pm April 22. Aquilino Scanga, 53, of Brookfield, operating a 2020 Subaru Outback, was stopped in the southbound lane of South Main Street for traffic. The front of Madison’s vehicle struck the rear of Scanga’s vehicle.

A passenger in Scanga’s vehicle was treated at the scene but not transported. Madison reported blood sugar levels but refused treatment.

Madison was given a verbal warning for following too closely resulting in an accident.

Hit Vehicle Stopped For Traffic

Newtown Police report Nolan Adams, 16, of Winchester, operating a 2010 BMW 528xi, was traveling southbound on South Main Street and slowed for traffic stopped at a red light at 11:28 am April 23. William Hanson, 68, of Milford, operating a 2015 Ford Explorer Sport, was traveling southbound on South Main Street and stopped for the red light. Adams failed to stop his vehicle from moving forward, striking the rear of Hanson’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles suffered minor damage.

Adams was issued a written warning for following too closely.

Off Curve Into Pole

Newtown Police report Brandon D’Amato, 20, of Southbury, was traveling westbound on Butterfield Road at 12:44 am April 23. While negotiating a curve in the roadway, D’Amato’s vehicle went off of the roadway to the right and struck a utility pole located off the roadway.

No injuries were reported. D’Amato’s vehicle was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.

D’Amato was issued an infraction for distracted driving other than use of handheld device.

Written Warning

Newtown Police report Kyle Merrick, 29, of Southbury, operating a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria, was traveling southbound on South Main Street in the area of Bryan Lane at 2:35 pm April 23. Stephanie Prusaczyk, 60, of Stratford, operating a 2016 Ford Fusion, was traveling southbound on South Main Street ahead of Merrick and stopped for traffic near Bryan Lane. Merrick failed to stop for traffic, causing the front of his vehicle to strike the rear of Prusaczyk’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles suffered disabling damage and were towed from the scene.

Merrick was issued a written warning for following too closely.

Car Keys Found

Newtown Police are seeking the owners of a BMW key found on Johnny Appleseed Drive near Sugar Loaf Road on April 23.

The owner can contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841 to claim it.

Struck Rock Embankment

Newtown Police report Justin Ortega, 18, of Danbury, operating a 2004 Honda Accord EX, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 6:18 am April 24. While negotiating a curve in the roadway, Ortega’s vehicle struck a rock embankment that was sticking out into the shoulder of the road.

No injuries were reported. Ortega’s vehicle sustained damage to the front right bumper and wheel and was towed from the scene.

Ortega was issued a verbal warning for making a restricted turn.

Hit Vehicle Turning Onto Road

Newtown Police report Tyson Mobley, 17, of Newtown, operating a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, was turning left from the parking lot of 100 Church Hill Road at 9:25 pm April 24. Mark Mockovak, 60, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SI550, was traveling west on Church Hill Road. The front passenger’s side of Mobley’s vehicle hit the rear driver’s side of Mockovak’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Lost Lane, Hit Car

Newtown Police report Jason Archer, 25, of Verplanck, N.Y., operating a 2019 Subaru CTK, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road in the left climbing lane at 8:06 am April 25. Luis Galarza-Cordoza, 27, of Danbury, operating a 2001 BMW 325i, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road in the same area. As the westbound travel lanes merged into one lane, Archer’s vehicle crossed into the eastbound travel lane and the front left corner of his vehicle struck the left side of Galarza-Cordoza’s vehicle. Galarza-Cordoza turned to the right in an attempt to avoid the collision but was unable to avoid Archer’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Archer was issued an infraction for failure to stay right on a curve.