Struck Telephone Pole

Newtown Police report Anton Yakimov, 27, of Ridgefield, operating a 2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5i AWD, was traveling northbound on Currituck Road at 10:05 pm November 30. Yakimov’s vehicle reportedly went off the right side of the roadway, over the curb, and struck a utility pole. After hitting the pole, the vehicle careened back across the roadway and off the left side, through a ditch and then back into the roadway.

A passenger was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown EMS. The accident is still under investigation.

Police Seek Hit-And-Run Driver

Newtown Police are seeking a hit and run driver who struck two mailboxes at the intersection of Taunton Ridge Road and Great Hill Road at approximately 8 am December 5. Police say the vehicle was traveling southbound on Taunton Ridge Road when it traveled off the southbound shoulder at the intersection with Great Hill Road.

The make and model of the vehicle are unknown. The only known information is that the vehicle was silver in color and sustained front-end damage.

Anyone with information can contact Newtown Police at 203-426-5841.

Hit Oncoming Vehicle

Newtown Police report Fraz Lugay, 25, of Lagrangeville, N.Y., operating a 2009 Acura RDX, was traveling eastbound on Sugar Street behind another vehicle at 11:33 am December 5. According to the report, Francoise Cutrone, 70, of Bethel, operating a 2012 Hyundai Tucson G, was traveling northbound on Elm Drive at the intersection of Sugar Street. The uninvolved vehicle stopped to allow Cutrone’s vehicle to enter onto Sugar Street to make a left turn. Lugay attempted to merge into the left turn only lane on Sugar Street and crossed partially into the westbound travel lane. The front left corner of his vehicle struck the front left corner of Cutrone’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Lugay was issued a written warning for unsafe passing.

Rear-Ended On South Main

Newtown Police report Nevzeta Xhemajli, 51, of Newtown, operating a 2010 Nissan Rogue, was traveling northbound on South Main Street behind a 2017 Kia Sportage EX operated by Charles Engle, 35, of Newtown at 4:20 pm December 6. At that time,the report states the front of Xhemajli’s vehicle struck the rear of Engle’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Xhemajli was given a verbal warning for following too closely resulting in an accident.

Unable To Stop

Newtown Police report Andrea Borsai, 56, of Monroe, operating a 2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited, was behind a 2019 Nissan Sentra S operated by Bella Carothers, 21, of Shelton, who stopped at a red traffic light in the southbound Lane of South Main Street in front of Sand Hill Plaza at 4:59 pm December 6. Borsai was unable to stop in time and the front of her vehicle struck the rear of Carothers’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Borsai was given a verbal warning for following too closely resulting in an accident.

Arrested For DUI

Newtown Police report that at 5:45 pm December 6, they located a suspicious vehicle parked on Buttonshop Road. After an investigation, James Keniston, 56, of Monroe, was placed under arrest on the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Keniston was released on a written promise to appear with a court date of December 28 in Danbury Superior Court.

Unsafe Passing

Newtown Police report at 6:14 pm December 6, Sahiba Rahamat, 19, of Waterbury, operating a 2008 Honda Pilot EX, was traveling eastbound on Mile Hill Road behind a 2004 Chevrolet Express operated by Peter Heinsohn, 46, of Ridgefield. Suzanne Cohen-Freylikhman, 46, operating a 2022 Audi Q5 Premium, was stopped at the stop sign in the northbound lane of Tinkerfield Road at the intersection of Mile Hill Road.

Heinsohn slowed for a vehicle turning left onto Queen Street. Rahamat’s vehicle did not stop in time and struck the passenger side of Heinsohn’s vehicle, veered to the right and struck the rear driver side of Cohen-Freylikhman’s vehicle.

Cohen-Freylikhman was evaluated by EMS and released at the scene. Rahamat’s vehicle and Cohen-Freylikhman’s vehicle were towed from the scene.

Rahamat was issued an infraction for unsafe passing.

Failure To Appear

Newtown Police report at 11:35 am December 7, David Sciaudone turned himself in at the Newtown Police Department on an outstanding Paperless Arrest Warrant Network (PRAWN) warrant from Danbury Superior Court.

Schiaudone was arrested for second-degree failure to appear. He was released on a surety bond of $25,000 with a court date of December 21 at Danbury Court.

Rear-Ended Near Exit 11

Newtown Police report Joseph Caplan, 71, of West Haven, operating a 2021 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring, was traveling north off exit 11 turning right onto Wasserman Way behind a 2016 Nissan Sentra operated by Tapas Panda, 44, of Danbury, at 8:31 am December 9. Panda began to slow down in traffic, taking the right turn. The front bumper of Caplan’s vehicle struck the rear bumper of Panda’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Snapped Utility Pole

Newtown police report Matthew Rossitto, 42, of Southbury, operating a 2010 GMC Savana G2500, was traveling northbound on Swamp Road at 12:09 pm December 9. Rossitto’s vehicle turned right off the roadway and struck the guidewires of a utility pole, causing the pole to snap.

No injuries were reported.

Rossitto was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Suspicious Vehicle Investigation

Newtown Police report that at 2:52 pm December 10, Newtown dispatch received a call reporting a suspicious van that had been occupied for over two hours, parked on the corner of Currituck Road and The Old Road. Following a brief investigation, the occupant of the vehicle, Mathew Solberg, 33, of Naugatuck, was identified as having two active warrants for his arrest. He was subsequently located and arrested on the charge of second-degree failure to appear. Solberg was held on a $750,000 bond with a court date of December 13.

Failure To Grant Right-Of-Way

Newtown Police report Gabriella Ciccarino, 17, of Southbury, operating a 2016 Acura RDX, was traveling southbound on Hawleyville Road at 8:03 am December 11. David Scanion, 45, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Subaru WRX Premium was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road. Ciccarino’s vehicle turned left into the rear left side of Scanion’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Ciccarino was given a written warning for failure to grant right-of-way at an intersection.

Lost Control Of Vehicle

Newtown Police report Vanessa Roman, 25, of Trumbull, operating a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 11:36 am December 11. Awilda McFarline, 26, of Bridgeport, operating a 2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0, was traveling northbound on South Main Street. Roman reportedly lost control of the Honda and traveled into the northbound lane where it hit the Nissan.

Both vehicles were towed because of disabling damage.

Roman was issued a misdemeanor summons for operating a motor vehicle with no insurance, operating a motor vehicle with no license, and traveling too fast for conditions.

Private Property Fender Bender

Newtown Police report Anahita Hashemi, 55, of Brookfield, operating a 2017 Honda Civic EX, was in the commercial parking lot of Papa Al’s restaurant, 23 Barnabas Road, at 12:13 pm December 11. Hashemi backed into a 2016 GMC Sierra K owned by Brian Loftus of Newtown, damaging the left rear of her vehicle and doing minor damage to Loftus’ vehicle.

Hashemi left the scene, and later told police she believed she had only hit a curb. A Newtown police officer met Hashemi at her residence where he confirmed the damage. No enforcement was indicated in the report.