State Expands Prosecution In Hit-And-Run Case

By Andrew Gorosko

The state has expanded its prosecution against a Sherman man, who is charged in a May hit-and-run accident on Route 302, in which the man allegedly fled the scene after striking and seriously injuring a woman jogger.

In Danbury Superior Court on August 1, the state added the charge of second degree assault with a motor vehicle against Michael Williams, 32, of Sherman, who is self-employed carpenter. The charge is a felony.

 A person is guilty of assault in the second degree with a motor vehicle when, while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both, he or she causes serious physical injury to another person as a consequence of the effect of such liquor or drug, according to state law.

On June 16, Newtown police had charged Mr Williams on a warrant with evading responsibility with serious injury. That charge is a felony. Mr Williams, who is free on $75,000 bail, was arraigned in court on that charge on July 1. Mr Williams has not entered pleas on either of the two pending charges.

Police allege that while driving his pickup truck, Mr Williams ran over and seriously injured Marianne Ryder, 43, of Dodgingtown about 5 pm on May 29 on Route 302 (Sugar Street), and then left the accident without stopping. Ms Ryder is recovering from multiple serious injuries. She spent three weeks as a patient in Danbury Hospital after the accident.

Ms Ryder was jogging eastward along the eastbound road shoulder of Route 302, about 2,000 feet east of Route 302’s intersection with Head O’ Meadow Road, when an eastbound red 1995 Ford F-150 pickup truck, allegedly driven by Mr Williams, struck Ms Ryder from behind. The area has a posted 40-mph speed limit. Weather conditions were clear. The road was dry.

After the May 29 accident, police spent about four hours investigating at the scene, collecting much evidence there. Police interviewed several witnesses.

Attorney Murray Kessler of New Milford, who represents Mr Williams, said in court on August 1 that much work remains to be done on Mr Williams’ case. Forensic testing needs to be performed, Mr Kessler said.

Mr Kessler said he expects to have discussions with the state prosecutor in the case.

On August 5, Mr Kessler said it is unclear if Mr Williams would enter pleas to the charges when he is next scheduled to appear in court on August 22.

The lawyer said he hopes to soon receive the results of forensic testing being performed by the state on physical evidence in the case. Mr Kessler would not comment on whether Mr Williams would have independent forensic testing done on the physical evidence in the case.

Mr Kessler declined to comment on whether Mr Williams is amenable to reaching a plea bargain with the state prosecutor.

“I can’t comment on what’s going to happen,” Mr Kessler said.

At 1:30 pm on May 30, Newtown police executed a search-and-seizure warrant at 10 Blackberry Lane in Sherman, seizing Mr Williams’ truck, which they believe struck Ms Ryder the previous day. The truck’s right front grill and hood areas were damaged.

Police attempted to interview Mr Williams on May 30 but “he refused to answer any questions based on the advice of legal counsel,” according to court papers.

On June 3, state police inspected the pickup truck for evidence of the accident. Police scraped a “bloodlike stain” from a mechanical part on the truck’s undercarriage, according to court papers. “Several pieces of evidence recovered from the accident scene were perfect matches to damage on the front grill area of the red Ford pickup,” the legal papers state.