Hit And Run Destroys Gate

Newtown Police report Michael O’Reilly, 58, of Meriden, operating a 2019 Toyota Sienna, was leaving the parking lot at 12 Dickinson Drive at 10:37 pm June 9. While leaving, police say the vehicle struck an island that contained sensors and stops for the gate system and proceeded over that island, which destroyed those parts of the gate, before striking a second island and causing minor damage to it. O’Reilly then reportedly continued north down Dickinson Drive to Riverside Road, leaving the area.

The incident is still under investigation and no charges have yet been filed.

Sideswiped Car

Newtown Police report Daniel Reyes, 20, of Bridgeport, operating a 2020 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling southbound on Washington Avenue at 10:38 pm June 30. He was traveling behind a 2011 Honda Odyssey operated by Maria Mascimento, 57, of Sandy Hook. Reyes attempted to pass Mascimento as Mascimento began turning left onto Pearl Street, and Reyes’ vehicle sideswiped Mascimento’s.

No injuries were reported.

Neither vehicle was towed.

Reyes was issued a written warning for unsafe passing.

Backed Into Car

Newtown Police report Katherine Bode, 59, of Newtown, operating a 2013 Subaru Impreza, was backing from a space in the parking lot of 75 Church Hill Road at 4:30 pm July 3. Emily Dunn, 19, of New Milford, operating a 2009 Nissan Altima, was driving through the same parking lot. Bode backed into the driver’s side door of Dunn’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Hit And Run Driver Caught

Newtown Police report Philip Griffin, 62, of Newtown, operating a 2016 Ford F150, was traveling eastbound on Little Brook Lane at 6:21 pm July 6. While navigating a left curve in the roadway, police say Griffin went off the roadway, striking a curb and a mailbox. Griffin left the scene and was followed home by a witness who informed Newtown Police.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Griffin was arrested and charged with failure to maintain lane, operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and evading responsibility.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that at 7:26 pm July 7, officers responded to Farmery Lane on a report of an intoxicated man operating a motor vehicle.

Upon investigation, officers arrested Stephen Marron, 62, of Newtown, on the charges of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and interfering with a police officer/resisting arrest.

Marron was released on a $5,000 bond with a court date of July 18 in Danbury Superior Court.

Two Injured While Parking

Newtown Police report Barbara Kiley, 87, of Mountainside, N.J., was attempting to pull into a handicap parking space in a private parking lot at 66 Church Hill Road at 10:39 am July 8. While doing so, police say Kiley accelerated, causing the front bumper of her vehicle to strike the metal railings of the entrance/exit ramp.

Both Kiley and a passenger were transported to Danbury Hospital with suspected minor injuries. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

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

Collision At Caraluzzi’s

Newtown Police report Eric Casagrande, 21, of Newtown, operating a 2011 Toyota Venza, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 7:19 pm July 8. George Georgaras, 59, of Bethel, operating a 2007 Subaru Impreza, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road. Police say Casagrande began to turn left into the driveway of Caraluzzi’s Market when the front bumper of his vehicle struck the front left bumper of Georgaras’ vehicle.

A passenger was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected minor injury. Both vehicles were towed.

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

Struck Tree, Rolled Down Hill

Newtown Police report Alberto Gonzalez, 63, of Newtown, was traveling westbound on Butterfield Road at 1:50 pm July 10. While negotiating a curve in the roadway, police say Gonzalez traveled off the westbound shoulder, striking a tree. After striking the tree, the vehicle rolled down a hill.

Gonzalez was treated at the scene for minor injuries but not transported. The vehicle was towed.

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

Hit Oncoming Vehicle

Newtown Police report Oscar Rodriguez, 41, of New Haven, operating a 2021 Ram 3500, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 3:34 pm July 11. Griffin Geissler, 16, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2013 Honda Pilot, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road. On a curve, police say Rodriguez crossed over the yellow centerline and into the eastbound lane, and the left side of his vehicle struck the left front side of Geissler’s vehicle. Geissler’s vehicle was then pushed into a guard rail.

Geissler was treated at the scene for minor injuries but was not transported.

Rodriguez was issued an infraction for failure to drive right on a curve.

Range Rover Hits Rav4

Newtown Police report Denise Madden, 64, of Bethel, operating a 2008 Land Rover Range Rover, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road behind a 2014 Toyota Rav4 operated by Ralph Amodeo, 67, of Newtown. Amodeo was making a right turn into Newtown Power Equipment when the front end of Madden’s vehicle struck the rear end of his vehicle.

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

Madden was issued an infraction for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Sideswipe in Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Emma Alexander, 19, of Oxford, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, was traveling westbound in the parking lot of 14 Church Hill Road at 7:27 pm July 16. Molly Moran, 18, of Newtown, operating a 2017 Ford Expedition, was traveling eastbound in the same lot. The two vehicles sideswiped each other.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Unregistered and Uninsured

Newtown Police report arresting Carlos Rivera, 30, of East Haven, at 6:15 pm July 18, on the charges of operating an unregistered motor vehicle, improper use of marking plates, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of August 1 in Danbury Superior Court.