Hit Leaving Driveway

Newtown Police report Kenneth Savoie, 19, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2009 Hyundai Elantra, was in a driveway on Berkshire Road at 2:48 pm May 28. Tracey Gehm, 48, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2017 Volkswagen Passat, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road. Police say Savoie pulled across the roadway in front of Gehm’s vehicle and the front left of Gehm’s vehicle struck the rear left of Savoie’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Savoie received a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way at a private driveway.

Accelerated Into Pick-Up

Newtown Police report Tyler Fralley, 18, of Newtown, operating a 2010 Infiniti G37, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road at 7:43 am June 1. Michael Anstett, 51, of Bethel, operating a 2023 Ram 1500, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road ahead of Fralley. Police say Anstett stopped for traffic at the intersection with Queen Street and Fralley accelerated, and the front end of Fralley’s vehicle struck the rear of Anstett’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Fralley was issued a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Parking Lot Collision

Newtown Police report Douglas Rose, 41, of Woodbury, operating a 2015 Honda Odyssey, was backing out of a parking spot in a lot on Queen Street at 11:35 am June 1. Lisa Petrovich, 61, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, was entering a parking spot in the same lot. Police say the back corner of Rose’s vehicle struck the passenger’s side of Petrovich’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Hit And Run Driver Sought

Newtown Police report Karl Finsterbusch, 57, of Newtown, operating a 2013 Ford F350, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road at 7:30 am June 2. Finsterbusch told police that an unknown dark colored pickup truck was traveling southbound on Hattertown Road and crossed into the northbound travel lane, and the mirrors of both vehicles made contact.

Anyone who may have seen this incident is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841 and speak with Officer McCarthy, referencing case 2300007402.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Sean Kenny, 19, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2012 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 6:23 pm June 5. Russell Benjamin, 75, of Danbury, operating a 2022 Toyota Avalon, was traveling southbound on South Main Street ahead of Kenny. Police say Benjamin braked for traffic and the front bumper of Kenny’s vehicle struck the rear of Benjamin’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Kenny was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Bottle In Hand

Newtown Police report Kenneth Donnelly, 48, of Seymour, operating a 2018 Ram 3500, was traveling southbound on Riverside Road at 10:17 pm June 7. Donnelly drove off the roadway and his vehicle drove into an embankment, struck a rock and then a utility pole. The utility pole and wires were toppled due to the impact and the vehicle flipped onto its driver’s side.

Police say Donnelly was observed by EMS and fire department personnel as holding a nearly empty bottle of Majorska vodka as they cut the windshield and roof to remove him from the vehicle. Numerous opened cans of White Claws and Trulys were also observed in the vehicle, according to the report.

Donnelly was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. The vehicle was towed. The incident is under investigation.

Crash At Tractor Supply

Newtown Police report Gary Ballard, 78, of Southbury, operating a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, was exiting the commercial parking lot at 116 South Main Street at 11:03 am June 8. Carlos Fernandez, 26, of Danbury, operating a 2012 Nissan Altima, was traveling northbound on South Main Street in the same area. Police say Ballard entered the northbound travel lane when it was unsafe to do so and the front right corner of the vehicle made contact with the left front side of Fernandez’s vehicle. Fernandez’s vehicle continued northbound and struck rocks and brush off of the road and shoulder.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Ballard was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at a private road or driveway; and Fernandez was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Chain Reaction

Newtown Police report Gary Knees, 65, of Newtown, operating a 2002 Honda Accord, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 1:14 pm June 10. He was traveling behind a 2010 Hyundai Elantra operated by Denise Ozanne, 72, of Newtown, which in turn was behind a 2013 Honda Pilot operated by Felipe Rosa, 48, of Newtown. Police say Rosa stopped for traffic as the vehicle in front of him took a left turn into a private parking lot. Ozanne stopped behind him. As Ozanne slowed to a stop, the front bumper of Knees’ vehicle struck the rear of her vehicle, which pushed Ozanne’s vehicle into the rear of Rosa’s vehicle.

Ozanne was transported to Danbury Hospital with possible injuries. Ozanne’s vehicle was towed.

Knees was issued an infraction for following too close.

Mercedes Hits Ram

Newtown Police report David Penry, 52, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Mercedes-Benz E 63, was in the driveway of 5 Tory Lane at 5:50 pm June 10. Andy Rodriguez, 29, of West Haven, operating a 2022 Ram Pro, pulled into the driveway and parked. Penry backed up in the driveway and the left rear section of his vehicle made contact with the left middle section of Rodriguez’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Unsafe Left Turn

Newtown Police report Laura Morano, 54, of Carmel, N.Y., operating a 2007 Toyota Camry, was making a left from 67 Church Hill Road onto Church Hill Road at 6:43 pm June 11. Robert Wolvek, 76, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2021 Hyundai Tucson, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road. Police say as Morano turned left, Wolvek attempted to swerve into a right turn only lane to avoid contact, but the right front corner of Morano’s vehicle struck the left rear of Wolvek’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Morano was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way while making a left hand turn.

Breach Of Peace

Newtown Police report that at 5:55 pm June 12, officers were dispatched to a home on Papoose Hill Road for the report of an assault. Police had received a complaint of a physical altercation between Melissa Gregson, 55, of Newtown, and an employee from an insurance company. Police say Gregson removed items from the victim’s vehicle and threw them on the ground, and struck the victim.

Gregson was charged with breach of peace. She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of June 27 in Danbury Superior Court.