Hit Officer

Newtown Police report that an officer directing traffic on Botsford Hill Road for a motor vehicle collision was struck by a passing vehicle at 9:42 pm September 14. Officer Amanda Lopez was directing traffic in the northbound travel lane, around a wrecker on scene to tow a vehicle from the accident and her own police cruiser, which had its overhead emergency lights activated. Lopez was using a flashlight to wave northbound traffic into the southbound travel lane and then re-enter the northbound lane beyond the collision site.

Police say Charles Nixon, 52, of Bridgeport, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, followed an uninvolved vehicle around the wrecker and cruiser, but when the uninvolved vehicle returned to the northbound travel lane, Nixon did not follow and struck the left arm and elbow of Lopez.

Newtown Ambulance responded to evaluate Lopez, who declined transport.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Reckless Driving

Newtown Police report Martin Laroche, 19, of Monroe, operating a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze, was traveling northbound on South Main Street approaching the intersection with Botsford Hill Road at 11:42 pm September 14. Blake Bryant, 19, of Bethel, operating a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, was stopped at the intersection ahead of Laroche. Police say Laroche failed to stop in time and struck Bryant’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Laroche was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless driving, and following too closely.

Struck Stone Wall

Newtown Police report Aidan Eivazians, 17, of Bethel, operating a 2003 Buick LeSabre, was traveling southbound on Taunton Hill Road at 5:37 am September 21. Eivazians crossed the centerline and struck a stone wall off the northbound shoulder of the roadway.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Eivazians was issued an infraction for failure to drive right.

Hydroplaned Into Collisions

Newtown Police report Tristan Powell, 44, of New Haven, operating a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, was attempting to negotiate a curve while traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 8:27 pm September 23. Emily Hingley, 21, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Nissan Versa, was negotiating the same curve eastbound. Police say Powell’s vehicle hydroplaned off the roadway onto an embankment before overcorrecting and crossing over the double yellow line and into the eastbound travel lane, causing Hingley’s vehicle to strike Powell’s vehicle.

Both drivers were transported to Danbury Hospital with suspected injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Powell was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Struck Sidewalk

Newtown Police report Rosemary Sivertson, 84, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Honda CR-V, was attempting to park in a designated parking space at the Urgent Care facility at 266 South Main Street at 1:36 pm September 25. Sivertson’s vehicle impacted the sidewalk with its front end before impacting a pillar and the front outer wall of the building.

Police say after the collision, Sivertson backed into the space before being helped into Urgent Care by staff. Sivertson said she was feeling dizzy so she drove herself to Urgent Care.

Sivertson’s vehicle was towed from the scene. She was transported to Danbury Hospital for medical conditions not related to the collision.

Hit Two Guardrails

Newtown Police report William Kneen, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2003 Honda Odyssey, was traveling southbound on The Boulevard at 8:45 pm September 25. Kneen lost control of his vehicle and collided with the guardrail on the southbound side of the roadway before crossing the centerline and colliding with the guardrail on the northbound said.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Kneen was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Hit Guardrail, Pole, Rock Wall

Newtown Police report Ethan Wilson, 26, of Ansonia, operating a 2018 Honda Accord, was traveling on Berkshire Road at 5:02 pm September 26. Wilson drove off the roadway, striking a guardrail, and then struck a utility pole before hitting a rock wall.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Wilson was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions and improper attachments on plates.

Conflicting Stories

Newtown Police report Maria Pusztay, 61, of Easton, operating a 2019 Hyundai Sonata, was making a left turn into 228 South Main Street from the northbound travel lane at 9:08 am September 28. Scott Wilson, 64, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox, was turning left onto South Main Street from 228 South Main Street. Police say Pusztay drove in front of Wilson’s vehicle, and the front of Wilson’s vehicle collided with the left rear wheel of Pusztay’s vehicle.

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

Due to conflicting statements made by both operators and a lack of witnesses or video, police were unable to prove which driver was at fault and no action was taken.

Hit Railroad Bridge

Newtown Police report Deisi Jaya-Sisalima, 46, of New Haven, operating a 2007 Hino 268, was traveling eastbound on Botsford Hill Road at 5:21 am September 27. The truck struck the underside of the railroad bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Jaya-Sisalima was issued an infraction for failure to obey a height requirement.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that at 5:35 pm September 27, William Campbell, 75, of Newtown, came into the police department to turn himself in on an active warrant. He was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to keep right.

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

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Ian Sibby, 31, of North Haven, operating a 2009 Acura TSX, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 8:02 am September 28. He was traveling behind a 2020 Mazda CX-5 operated by Daniel Naulaguari, 17, of Sandy Hook, which had stopped behind a 2015 GMC Acadia operated by Sandra Arpi, 42, of Sandy Hook, who was waiting to make a left turn onto 4 Grays Plain Road. Police say the front of Sibby’s vehicle collided with the rear of Naulaguari’s vehicle, which was pushed into the rear of Arpi’s vehicle.

All three drivers and a passenger in Arpi’s vehicle complained of injuries, but all declined transport. Sibby’s and Naulaguari’s vehicles were towed.

Sibby was issued an infraction for following too close.

Collision In Lot

Newtown Police report Casey Cornelis, 21, of Woodbury, operating a 1996 Suzuki ECV21S, was traveling in a parking lot on South Main Street at 4:15 pm September 28. Andrew Brodtman, 55, of Monroe, was backing out of a space in the lot. Police say Cornelis struck Brodtman’s vehicle while attempting to pass.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Mercedes Strikes BMW

Newtown Police report Fabiano Desouza-Paes, 43, of New Milford, operating a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, was attempting to exit a parking spot in a lot on Queen Street at 5:12 pm September 28. While backing out, his vehicle struck an unoccupied 2013 BMW 328xi Sulev owned by Kathryne Forgione of Newtown, which was parked in a neighboring stall.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Pickup Vs Pickup

Newtown Police report Patrick Loughman, 63, of Sandy Hook, operating a 1996 Chevrolet C3500, was backing out of a loading dock at a property on Peck’s Lane at 12:43 pm September 29. He backed into a parked 2011 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Roy Ayala, 27, of Seymour.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Rear Ended At Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Itzel Roman-Lara, 29, of Danbury, operating a 2018 Jeep Compass, was traveling on Botsford Hill Road at 3:49 pm October 2. Stephanie Burdo, 46, of Newtown, operating a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was stopped at the stop sign ahead of Roman-Lara, waiting for traffic to pass. Police say Roman-Lara’s vehicle struck the rear of Burdo’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.