Election Day Collision

Kimberly J. Lynch, 49, of Sandy Hook, was traveling south on Trades Lane around 5:53 am, Tuesday, November 3, approaching a blinking red traffic light.

At the same time, Richard D. Thorne, 58, of Woodbury, was traveling westbound on Wasserman Way, approaching the same intersection. Thorne’s direction of travel had a blinking yellow light.

Traffic was heavy due to the election polls at Reed School and most vehicles on Wasserman Way were turning right onto Trades Lane.

Lynch, who was operating a 2015 Kia Sportage EX, told police she was making a left turn, onto Wasserman, and thought she had a break in traffic. Thorne, in a 2000 Toyota Camry LE/XLE, stated he was traveling westbound in heavy traffic and that he proceeded into the intersection after a vehicle had turned right onto Trades Lane.

The Kia struck the Toyota at an angle.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and air bags did not deploy in either vehicle.

There were no injuries.

Following Too Close

A 2020 Volvo XC40 operated by Carl M. Almonte, 32, of Hartford, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road near the entrance to 174 Mt Pleasant Road around 7 pm, Thursday, November 5.

Almonte told police that he stopped on Mt Pleasant Road because the vehicle traveling in front of him was turning left into the parking lot of 174 Mt Pleasant Road.

At that time a 2000 Honda Civic SE, operated by James C. McCray, 48, of Sandy Hook, was also traveling east on Mt Pleasant. McCray told police that he saw Volvo stop in front of him. He applied the brake but his vehicle did not stop in time.

As a result, the Honda struck the rear of the Volvo.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Air bags did not deploy on either vehicle. No injuries were reported.

The Honda sustained moderate front right bumper damage. The Volvo sustained moderate right rear bumper damage and was towed from the scene

McCray was issued an infraction for following too close.

Failure To Maintain Lane

Susan A. Campbell, 72, of Sandy Hook, was traveling north on Berkshire Road just before 5 pm, November 6, when her vehicle, a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, went off the roadway just south of the road’s intersection with Old Mill Road.

The vehicle went to the right and struck a large rock before stopping.

Campbell was wearing her seat belt, and the vehicle’s air bags deployed. She did not report any injuries.

The Jeep was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.

Campbell was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Failure To Report

Around 11:25 pm, Friday, November 6, Kristian W. Otten, 30, of Newtown, was operating a 2018 Mazda 3 Grand Touring Edition westbound on Blackman Road, between Mt Pleasant Road and Middleton Road.

A black lab entered the westbound travel lane and was struck by the passenger side front end of the vehicle.

According to the police report, Otten continued, turning onto Middleton Road and then onto Whitewood Road, before stopping.

The black lab returned to its residence, where it was suspected to have minor injuries. There was no immediate confirmed evidence of trauma, according to the report.

Otten was issued an infraction for failure to report striking/injuring a dog.

The owner of the dog was verbally warned for allowing a dog to roam.

Falling Limb Incident

Aalyssa A. Mercing, 20, of Danbury, was operating a 2019 Chevrolet Trax westbound on Berkshire Road, near the intersection with Zoar Road, around 9:10 pm Sunday, November 15.

It was raining heavily, and there was a National Weather Service Tornado Warning over the area at that time.

Mercing told Newtown police that visibility was poor due to the rain. She further stated that she was driving at a slow rate of speed, when a tree branch fell on top of her vehicle, striking the hood and windshield.

The windshield of the Trax was extensively damaged and its hood was crushed. A tree branch was found in the rear passenger seat from the impact. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Mercing was wearing her seat belt at the time of the incident. She was uninjured.

No enforcement action was taken.

Unsafe Backing

A 2017 Hyundai Tucson sedan being operated by Anna Maher, 73, of Newtown, was stopped in westbound traffic on Mile Hill Road near the intersection of South Main Street, just past 11 am, Monday, November 16.

A 2018 Blue Bird school bus, operated by Richard Tarantino of Newtown, had also been traveling west on Mile Hill Road. It was also stopped in traffic, directly behind the Hyundai.

The sedan rolled back, and the rear end of that vehicle struck the front end of the bus. There was minor damage to the Hyundai only.

The school bus did not have children on board at the time of the incident.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts. No injuries were reported.

Maher was given a verbal warning for unsafe backing.

Tools Found

On November 21 around 11 am, a resident of Appleblossom Lane found tools near that road’s intersection with South Main Street.

Anyone who is missing tools is requested to contact Officer Greco at 203-426-5841.

Found Property

On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 24, a cell phone and gift were found on the back deck of a home on Aunt Park Lane. Newtown Police believe the items were dropped off at the wrong address.

The individual who left the items can contact Newtown Police Department, 203-426-5841, and identify the items to claim them.

Unsafe Tires

G.N. Menegazzo, 26, of Port Chester, N.Y., was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road, in the area of Checkerberry Lane, around 7:32 am, Friday, November 27, when the driver’s side rear tire blew out.

Menegazzo lost control of the vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The car went left off the roadway into an embankment, then continuing westbound, striking a traffic sign before reentering the roadway.

Menegazzo was wearing a seat belt at the time. The vehicle’s air bags deployed, but no injuries were reported to Menegazzo or a passenger.

The Malibu suffered disabling damage and was towed from the scene.

Menegazzo was issued a verbal warning for unsafe tires.

Unfamiliar Territory

Emir J. Kurkcu, 19, of Newtown, was operating a 2003 Honda Pilot EX southbound on Hawleyville Road around 7:33 am, Saturday, November 28. The vehicle went off the road and shoulder to the right, into a ditch on the southern side of the road. It then traveled back across the road and off the opposite shoulder, into the northern ditch.

Kurkcu was able to get the Pilot out of the ditch, moved to a location north of the accident scene, and parked on the shoulder.

Kurkcu told police he was unfamiliar with the roadway and misjudged the curve. He also stated he moved the vehicle to what he felt was a safer location following the incident.

There were no injuries to Kurkcu or a passenger. Both were wearing seat belts, and air bags did not deploy.

Vehicle Stolen

Newtown Police Department is investigating a report of a stolen motor vehicle that occurred during the overnight hours of December 1-2. The vehicle was reportedly stolen from the driveway of a property on Maple Drive. The keys were reportedly in the vehicle.

A second vehicle in the driveway was also reportedly entered, and items were taken from that vehicle.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the police department, 203-426-5841.