DUI Arrest—

Five Youths Uninjured When Tiny Car Hits Tree

By Andrew Gorosko

Police said that the five teenagers who were involved in a one-vehicle accident on Castle Hill Road late on the night of Saturday, November 14, are very fortunate that they were not seriously injured, or even killed, in the crash in which the tiny auto that they were riding collided with a tree.

Surprisingly, there were no injuries in the accident, said police Sergeant Christopher Vanghele. Police did not disclose the identities of those involved in the incident due to their ages.

Police charged a 17-year-old boy who was driving the Mini Cooper automobile involved in the crash with driving under the influence, with a travel lane violation, with violating a driving curfew, and with violating passenger restrictions for a 17-year-old motorist.

Riding as passengers in the vehicle were four teenage girls three of whom are age 14, and one is 15.

Sgt Vanghele said the 15-year-old girl was intoxicated to the point of being unconscious. She was transported to Danbury Hospital for medical treatment “due to extreme intoxication,” police said.

Sgt Vanghele said that the 17-year-old boy had been driving the Mini Cooper westward on a wet Castle Hill Road, in the area between its intersections with Taunton Lake Road and Pumpkin Lane, at about 11:14 pm when the vehicle went into an uncontrolled skid, entered the eastbound lane and then collided with a tree along the eastbound road shoulder. The right side of the vehicle made contact with the tree, he said.

The people inside the auto are very fortunate that none of them were injured due to the collision, the sergeant said. Based on the dynamics of the crash, the incident could have involved multiple fatalities, he said.

Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighters were dispatched to the scene.

The father of the driver posted $100 bail for the youth’s November 30 appearance in Danbury Youthful Offender Court, police said. The youths were released to their parents.

The police investigation into the incident remains open, the sergeant said. Police are interested in learning where the youths had been drinking and who had supplied them with alcohol, he said.