Runaway Boat

Newtown Police report Sylvester Copper, 66, of Waterbury, operating a 2018 GMC Sierra and towing an EZ Loader trailer with a Cobia Odyssey 195 boat on a trailer, was traveling westbound on Hawleyville Road at 8:34 am July 1. Police say when Copper crossed the railroad tracks on Hawleyville Road the trailer became detached from his vehicle. The trailer and boat then ran off the roadway to the right and struck a utility pole, damaging the control box attached to the pole. It also damaged the wooden/cable barriers on the side of the roadway.

No injuries were reported.

Copper was issued a verbal warning for operating a motor vehicle with an unsecured load.

Crash At Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Mario Oliva-Perez, 40, of Newtown, operating a 2001 Chevrolet S10, was turning left from Taunton Lane onto Mt Pleasant Road at 5:16 pm July 5. Thomas Buonocore, 58, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2010 Honda Civic, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road. The front of Oliva-Perez’s vehicle struck the passenger’s side of Buonocore’s vehicle.

Police say both Oliva-Perez and Buonocore were evaluated at the scene by emergency personnel for possible minor injuries, but both declined transport. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Oliva-Perez was issued an infraction for failure to heed a stop sign and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

The Sign Said ‘No Passing’

Newtown Police report Julio De Oliveira, 38, of Bridgeport, operating a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 1:23 am July 7. He was traveling behind a Ryder Rental Truck operated by Nicholas Teixeira, 39, of Brockton, Mass. Police say De Oliveira attempted to pass Teixeira and struck the front left corner of Teixeira’s vehicle while attempting to merge back into the right lane. De Oliveira’s vehicle then went off the road and shoulder to the left and hit a utility pole, and a “No Passing” sign.

No injuries were reported.

No enforcement was mentioned in the report.

Did Not Stop In Time

Newtown Police report Tabitha Salem, 20, of Oxford, operating a 2000 Ford Focus, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 7:45 am July 8. She was traveling behind a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter operated by Jason Scheurich, 47, of Southbury. Scheurich stopped for traffic ahead, and the front bumper of Salem’s vehicle hit the rear bumper of Scheurich’s vehicle.

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

Salem was given a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart, resulting in a motor vehicle accident.

Confused By Cones

Newtown Police report Alma Hoda, 61, of Woodbury, operating a 2011 Nissan Murano, was traveling west on Wasserman Way in a temporary westbound lane marked by cones at 12:17 pm July 8. Eric Tyler, 47, of Fairfield, operating a 2010 Nissan Titan, was traveling west behind Hoda in the same temporary westbound lane. Police say Hoda turned her vehicle left to enter and travel in the temporary eastbound lane of travel, also marked by cones; she then turned back into the temporary westbound lane and made contact with Tyler’s vehicle, which had continued traveling straight in the temporary westbound lane.

No injuries were reported. There was minor damage to both vehicles.

Hoda received a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane in a construction or utility zone.

Improper Passing

Newtown Police report Kyriaki Chagas, 53, of Shelton, operating a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS, was traveling southbound on Main Street at 2:08 pm July 8. She was traveling behind a 2014 Dodge Charger operated by Christopher Sherwood, 26, of Newtown. Police say Chagas attempted to pass Sherwood on the right while Sherwood was attempting to turn right onto West Street, and Chagas’ vehicle collided with Sherwood’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Chagas was issued a written warning for improper passing.

Corolla Hits Insight

Newtown Police report Susan Stewart, 65, of Westmont, N.J., operating a 2016 Toyota Corolla, was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of West Street and Main Street at 10:58 am July 9. Daniya Iqbal, 18, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2010 Honda Insight, was traveling southbound on Main Street. Stewart failed to grant right of way and the front driver’s side bumper of Stewart’s vehicle hit the rear passenger’s side of Iqbal’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Stewart was given a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way at a stop sign.

Rear-Ender At Light

Newtown Police report Mohammad Azhar, 34, of Danbury, operating a 2010 Honda Accord, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 6:18 pm July 11. Daniel Sears, 65, of Oxford, operating a 2018 Subaru Outback, was stopped in the left turn lane at the traffic light at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Wasserman Way. The front bumper of Azhar’s vehicle struck the rear bumper of Sears’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Azhar was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

Crossing Center Line

Newtown Police report Keira O’Donovan, 32, of Baltimore, Md., operating a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road in the left hand lane at 4:35 pm July 13. Chevi Panzanella, 30, of Patterson, N.Y., operating a 2018 Hyundai Kona, was traveling eastbound in the right hand lane. Police say O’Donovan then turned left into Panzanella’s lane, causing the vehicles to collide.

Panzanella was transported to Danbury Hospital for a possible injury. Both vehicles were towed.

O’Donovan was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way to oncoming traffic.

Found Wedding Band

Newtown Police reported on July 13 that a gold wedding band was found in the Fairfield Hills Campus. Anyone missing a wedding band is encouraged to contact the Newtown Police Department.

Two Injured In Crash

Newtown Police report Carolyn Kardos, 69, of Fort Meyers, Fla., operating a 2018 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling southbound on Main Street in the area of Church Hill Road at 3:31 pm July 16. Kardos was behind a non-involved vehicle that stopped north of the flag pole to allow a 2016 Toyota Rav4 operated by Kenneth Schell, 45, of New Milford, to enter Main Street. Police say Schell crossed into the southbound travel lane, and the front end of Kardos’ vehicle struck the front passenger’s side of Schell’s vehicle.

Both Kardos and Schell were transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Kardos was issued an infraction for passing on the right.

Reckless Driving

Newtown Police report Paige Bryden, 26, of Old Saybrook, operating a 2014 Dodge Charger, was traveling westbound on North Ridge Drive in the area of Pond View Drive at 8:28 am July 17. Bryden lost control on a curve and drove off the road and shoulder eastbound. Police say the front end of Bryden’s vehicle made contact with a guardrail end off of the road. Bryden accelerated in a failed attempt to regain control of the vehicle, which continued to travel forward on the guardrail before stopping.

Bryden was issued an misdemeanor summons for reckless driving and making a restricted turn. She has a court date of August 2 in Danbury Superior Court.

Hit 'No Pedestrian Crossing' Sign

Newtown Police report that a vehicle was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at approximately 6:30 pm July 17. When at the intersection with Grays Plain Road, the vehicle hit the embankment and then hit the “No Pedestrian Crossing” sign. The vehicle fled the scene, leaving debris from the front bumper.

Police say the vehicle make was identified by parts left behind and doing a search of a part number. The parts came back to a 2022 Lexus IS 300 or 350.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Newtown Police Department and reference case number 2200008897.

Cherokee Strikes Cube

Newtown Police report Draven Igaunus, 18, of Gaylordsville, operating a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 12 pm July 18. Natalie Nikitchyuk, 22, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2012 Nissan Cube, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road.

Iguanus’ vehicle struck the rear left of Nikitchyuk’s vehicle before it continued off the left hand side of the road and rolled onto its side.

No injuries were reported.

Iguanus received a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Following Too Closely

Newtown Police report Griffin Downs, 23, of Oxford, operating a 2005 Honda Civic, was traveling northbound on Route 34 at 12:03 pm July 18. Downs was traveling behind a 2018 Toyota Sienna operated by Nancy Munn, 73, of Brookfield. Police say Munn stopped for traffic, and Downs did not stop in time. The front of Downs’ vehicle struck the rear of Munn’s vehicle, causing minor damage to both vehicles.

No injuries were reported.

Downs was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Hit Vehicle Stopped At Sign

Newtown Police report Christine Pfeiffer, 56, of Newtown, operating a 2023 Mazda CX-50, was traveling west on Barnabas Road at 8:22 am July 19. Pfeiffer was traveling behind a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado operated by Timothy Barber, 62, of Stratford. Barber stopped at the stop sign, and Pfeiffer did not stop in time. The front of her vehicle struck the rear of Barber’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Pfeiffer was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.