Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Jose Garcia, 35, of Bridgeport, operating a 2021 Nissan Altima, was stopped on South Main Street at the intersection of Country Club Road at 3:39 pm May 11. He was stopped behind a 2021 Subaru Ascent operated by Emmaruth Bautista, 37, of Newtown. Police say Garcia proceeded forward and the front of his vehicle made contact with the rear of Bautista’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Garcia was issued a verbal warning for following too close resulting in a motor vehicle accident.

Cadillac Hits Ford

Newtown Police report John Castello, 49, of Brookfield, operating a 2018 Cadillac 4DSD, was traveling southbound in the area of South Main Street and Kay Lane at 9:01 am May 18. He was traveling behind a 2008 Ford Escape operated by George Appleby, 51, of Sandy Hook. Police say Appleby braked, and the front bumper of Castello’s vehicle struck the rear bumper of Appleby’s vehicle.

Both drivers reported minor injuries. Castello’s vehicle was towed.

Castello was issued an infraction for following too closely resulting in a motor vehicle accident.

Struck Trailer

Newtown Police report Nancy Bocian, 70, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Subaru Outback, was traveling northbound on Currituck Road at 6:08 pm May 18. Anildo Abelha, 52, of Danbury, operating a 2008 Ford F350 hauling a trailer, was stopped and preparing to turn left onto Hawleyville Road. Police say Bocian began to move towards a stop sign while preparing to turn right onto Hawleyville Road. Abelha began his left hand turn and Bocian began her right hand turn, and the front right area of Bocian’s vehicle struck the left side of the trailer.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Bocian was issued a written warning for following too closely resulting in a motor vehicle accident.

Failure To Maintain Distance

Newtown Police report Sandra Acevedo, 36, of Monroe, operating a 2014 Honda CR-V, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 10:03 am May 22. Suzanne McLean, 74, of Danbury, operating a 2018 Subaru Forester, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road ahead of Acevedo. Police say McLean stopped due to traffic and Acevedo did not stop in time, and the front end of Acevedo’s vehicle struck the rear of McLean’s vehicle.

Acevedo had a suspected minor injury but declined transport. Acevedo’s vehicle was towed.

Acevedo was issued an infraction for failure to maintain distance.

Restricted Turn

Newtown Police report Carl Dalzell, 67, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Toyota Rav4, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 9:05 am May 25. Michael McManus, 45, of Stratford, operating a 2005 Kensworth semi truck, was traveling southbound on South Main Street. Dalzell attempted to turn left onto Country Club Road and the front of McManus’ vehicle hit the passenger’s side of Dalzell’s vehicle.

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

Dalzell was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Crossing Traffic Crash

Newtown Police report Janice Bernard, 78, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2016 Mazda3, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at the intersection of Country Club Road at 12:30 pm May 25. Lena Muehlenbein, 67, of New Milford, operating a 2021 Subaru Forester, was traveling southbound on South Main Street in the through traffic lane north of Country Club Road.

Police say another vehicle traveling southbound on South Main Street in the left turn only lane stopped to allow Bernard to turn left onto Country Club Road. Bernard entered into the southbound travel lane of South Main Street when it was unsafe to do so and the front right corner of Muehlenbein’s vehicle made contact with the rear right corner of Bernard’s vehicle.

Neither vehicle was towed. No injuries were reported.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Collision At Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Jeanie Budge, 58, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, was traveling northbound on Key Rock Road, at 2:53 pm May 25. She was traveling behind a 2008 Toyota Camry operated by Alana Strock, 38, of Danbury. Police say Strock stopped at a stop sign at the intersection with Sugar Street and Budget stopped behind. Both vehicles began to move forward, and Budge’s vehicle rear-ended Strock’s vehicle.

Strock complained of back pain and was transported to Danbury Hospital. Neither vehicle was towed.

Budge was issued a verbal warning for following too closely and failure to renew a driver’s license.

Camry Versus Civic

Newtown Police report Damon Fredricks, 32, of Brookfield, operating a 2007 Toyota Camry, was traveling southbound on Currituck Road at the stop sign of Main Street at 7:51 am May 26. John Cordeiro, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Honda Civic, was traveling northbound on Main Street. Fredericks entered the northbound travel lane when it was unsafe to do so. Police say an uninvolved vehicle took evasive action and traveled around Fredricks’ vehicle; Cordeiro attempted to veer left around Fredricks’ vehicle but the front end of his vehicle made contact with the front left corner of Fredricks’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Fredricks’ vehicle was towed.

Fredricks was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

Struck Tree Stump

Newtown Police report Abigail Clarke, 23, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Buick Encore, was traveling eastbound on Mount Pleasant Road at 7:57 pm May 26. Clarke made a left turn toward Whippoorwill Hill Road and drove off the northbound shoulder, striking a tree stump.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Clarke was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Hit Stopped SUV

Newtown Police report Timothy Hoeffel, 39, of Newtown, operating a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 4:07 pm May 27. Casey Ragan, 42, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, was traveling northbound on South Main Street ahead of Hoeffel. Ragan stopped in a line of traffic at the intersection of South Main Street and Elm Drive. The front of Hoeffel’s vehicle struck the rear of Ragan’s vehicle.

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

Hoeffel was issued an infraction for following too close.

Reckless Driving Charge

Newtown Police report Daniel Musolino, 27, of Brookfield, operating a 2014 Ram Truck, was traveling northbound on Mount Pleasant Road at 7:24 pm May 28. William Driscoll, 40, of Danbury, operating a 2019 Ford Escape, was traveling southbound on Mount Pleasant Road in the southbound travel lane. While coming around a curve, the two vehicles struck head on.

Both drivers were evaluated by EMS; Musolino was transported to Danbury Hospital. Driscoll declined transport but was later transported by a relative. Both vehicles were towed.

Musolino was issued a misdemeanor summons for reckless driving, failure to maintain a proper lane, operating while under suspension and operating with no insurance.

Erratic Driver

Newtown Police report at 10:30 pm May 28, officers performed a motor vehicle stop on Mount Pleasant Road at the intersection of Mount Pleasant Terrace after a vehicle was observed being operated in an erratic manner. After an on-scene investigation, Eidan Hanna, 18, of Sandy Hook, was arrested and charged with reckless driving and failure to obey the signal of an officer.

Hanna was released on a promise to appear with a court date of June 12 in Danbury Superior Court.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police arrested Juan Moncada-Farfan, 27, of Stroudsburgh, Penn., at 3:45 am May 29 on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, making an improper turn, and operating without a driver’s license. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of June 13.