SUV Driver Found At Fault In Pedestrian Accident

By Andrew Gorosko

Following an investigation, police have determined that the driver of a sport-utility vehicle was at fault on May 18, when the SUV she was driving collided with a female pedestrian who was crossing Main Street at the flagpole intersection.

At about 2:51 pm, motorist Mary Duffy, 51, of 4 Currituck Road, was driving a 2005 Toyota RAV-4 southward on Main Street, according to police.

At that time, pedestrian Angela Sobotka, 17, of 28 Buttonball Drive, was crossing Main Street from west to east at a crosswalk located near West Street’s southern intersection with Main Street, police said.

The front end of the Toyota then struck Sobotka’s left side, according to police.

Police said they interviewed three witnesses in determining what occurred in the accident.

Based on those witnesses’ accounts, Sobotka had gotten about halfway across the southbound travel lane of Main Street and was not running and did not suddenly enter the crosswalk, police said.

Also, Sobotka was visible while on the side of the street and while in the crosswalk, and Duffy should have had time to stop the SUV before the impact occurred, police said.

Based on statements from the witnesses, both Duffy and Sobotka were not observed to be paying attention to the road or to conditions at the time of the accident, police said.

Sobotka told police that she had a fractured right clavicle, a bump on the head, a sore left arm, and scratches on her knees, back, and hip due to the accident.

Following the accident, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported Sobotka to Danbury Hospital where she was treated for injuries and then released. Hook & Ladder firefighters also responded to the accident.

Following the accident, police closed a section of Main Street to traffic for about 20 minutes to investigate.

Police said they issued Duffy an infraction ticket for failure to grant the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. State law requires that motorists yield to pedestrians who are in crosswalks. The ticket bears a $181 fine. It is appealable in court.

On May 12, a 14-year-old male pedestrian was involved in vehicle vs pedestrian accident nearby on Main Street, in front of Booth Library. That accident did not occur at a crosswalk.