Mechanical Failure Leads To Collision

Newtown Police report David Toth, 55, of New Milford, operating a 2004 Western Star Conventional 4900FA tractor trailer, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 10:27 am October 30. The vehicle had a drag link snap, causing the operator to lose control of steering, and the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway, striking a utility pole.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken due to the unintended mechanical failure.

Collision In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Dennis Meehan, 74, of Hatboro, Pa., was backing out of a parking spot at 4 Primrose at 12:05 pm November 3. A Volkswagen Atlas was being driven by the rear of the vehicle in the same lot. Meehan’s vehicle struck the Volkswagen.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Struck Parked Vehicle, Fence

Newtown Police report Manuel Mercado, 34, of New Haven, operating a 2023 Ford Transit, was delivering a package to a home on Underhill Road at 5:11 pm November 3. Mercado didn’t realize how steep the driveway was or about the curve at the bottom, and struck a 2016 Toyota Sequioa owned by Felicia Bettini, 66, of Southbury, that was parked at the bottom.

Mercado’s vehicle was towed halfway up the driveway. After being unhooked, Mercado attempted to drive the vehicle away but struck a section of fence on the property, damaging the wood.

No injuries were reported.

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

Tried To Squeeze, Hit Car

Newtown Police report Christopher Cervellino, 30, of Seymour, operating a 2012 Ford F550, was traveling northbound in a private driveway on Wasserman Way at 11:05 am November 4. A 2013 Nissan Altima owned by Romel Guarderas-Vallardes was parked off the northbound shoulder of the same driveway. Cervellino tried to fit between the Nissan and a cement mixer that was off the southbound shoulder while backing up, and struck the Nissan.

No injuries were reported. No vehicles were towed.

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

Hit Mailbox

Newtown Police report Peter Monks, 18, of Trumbull, operating a 2015 Volvo S60, was traveling on Hattertown Road at 10:30 am November 5 when a cat ran in front of the vehicle, and Monks swerved to avoid it and struck a mailbox.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Subaru Hits Subaru

Newtown Police report Steven Kutsenko, 30, of White Plains, N.Y., operating a 2022 Subaru WRX was traveling north on Botsford Hill Road at 10:54 am November 5. He was traveling behind a 2020 Subaru Legacy operated by Stephen Jurman, 56, of Monroe. Jurman stopped to turn left onto Little Brook Lane, and Kutsenko was unable to stop in time, rear-ending him.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed. Kutsenko was issued an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance behind.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Isabella Rocha, 19, of Waterbury, operating a 2017 Honda CR-V, was traveling south on South Main Street at 11:56 am November 5. She was traveling behind a 2018 Hyundai Kona operated by Caitlyn Delaney, 25, of Trumbull. Delaney came to a stop for traffic ahead and Rocha rear-ended her vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Rocha was issued an infraction for following too close.

DUI Charges

Newtown Police responded to a one-vehicle non-injury collision on Hattertown Road near Castle Meadow Road at 1:57 pm November 5. Upon investigation, police arrested Nikita Redmond, 23, of Bethel, and charged him with traveling unreasonably fast, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, making an improper turn, and failure to obey a stop sign.

He was released on a $500 bond with a court date of November 20 in Danbury Superior Court.

Larceny Charges

Newtown Police report Angel Zuniga-Castro, 44, of Waterbury, turned himself in to Newtown Police Department on November 6 after learning there was a warrant for his arrest. Zuniga-Castro was charged with issuing a bad check over $2,000 and fourth-degree larceny. He was later charged with second-degree failure to appear.

Zuniga-Castro was released on a $1,500 bond with a court date of November 20 in Danbury Superior Court.

Left Was Not Right

Newtown Police report Eileen Holleran, 83, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Subaru Impreza, was exiting the Walgreens driveway on South Main Street at 2:03 pm November 6. John Cellino, 70, of Niantic, operating a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck, was traveling north on Main Street. Holleran exited the driveway, turning left on South Main Street, and struck Cellino’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Holleran was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way while making a left turn.

Hit Utility Pole

Newtown Police report Andrew Ryan, 29, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2015 Ford F550, was traveling westbound on Borough Lane at 2:52 pm November 6. The passenger side mirror, truck rack, and tool box made contact with a utility pole on the shoulder of the westbound lane.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Ryan was issued a written warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Unsafe Passing

Newtown Police report Christopher Becker, 21, of Fairfield, operating a 2023 International Hx520 tractor trailer, was traveling north on South Main Street at 3:27 pm November 6. He was traveling behind a 2015 Nissan Rogue operated by Acero Flores, 52, of Bridgeport. Flores stopped for traffic. Becker attempted to pass Flores on the right to enter the right turn lane. While passing, Becker’s vehicle made contact with Flores’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Becker was given a verbal warning for unsafe passing.

Failure To Grant Right Of Way

Newtown Police report Betty Warner, 85, of Newtown, operating a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, was traveling southbound on South Main Street in the left turn only lane at 6:54 am November 7. Jeremy Carroll, 39, of Wolcott, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Express, was traveling northbound on South Main Street. Warner attempted to make a left turn onto Mile Hill Road and struck Carroll’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Warner was issued a written warning for failure to grant right of way to oncoming traffic.

Ran Over Foot

Newtown Police report Lukasz Piotrowski, 42, of Naugatuck, operating a 2013 Ram 5500, was exiting a garage bay on Dusty Lane at 8:07 am November 7. While exiting, a passenger side tire ran over the foot of Timothy McGainey, 23, of New Milford, causing an injury.

McGainey was transported to Danbury Hospital.

The incident is still under investigation.

Subaru Hits Nissan

Newtown Police report Nevin Gagnon, 23, of Bethel, operating a 2012 Subaru Impreza, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 7:05 pm November 8. He was traveling behind a 2020 Nissan Kick operated by Brian Harper, 35, of New Windsor, N.Y. Harper came to a stop for traffic and Gagnon was unable to stop in time, rear-ending Harper’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Gagnon was issued a written warning for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Hit Stopped Vehicle

Newtown Police report Victoria De Andrade, 19, of Danbury, operating a 2010 Acura RDX, was traveling northbound on Toddy Hill Road at 7:56 pm November 9. She was traveling behind a 2024 Toyota Prius operated by Thomas Oakes, 70, of Southbury. Oakes came to a stop for traffic stopped at the red traffic light at the intersection with Berkshire Road. De Andrade came to a stop behind Oakes’ vehicle. The light turned green and the vehicle ahead of Oakes began to move. De Andrade began to move forward and rear-ended Oakes’ vehicle.

A passenger in Oakes’ vehicle complained of neck pain but declined medical treatment. Neither vehicle was towed.

De Andrade was issued a written warning for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Failure To Appear Charge

Newtown Police arrested Adriano Costa, 35, of Bridgeport, on the charge of second-degree failure to appear at 2:57 am November 11. He was released on a $5,000 bond with a court date of November 21.