Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Kristen McManus, 67, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2023 Audi A3 Premi, was stopped in traffic for a red light at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Bennetts Bridge Road at 8:18 am November 18. Daniel Hannibal, 36, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Jeep Compass Latitude, was stopped behind McManus’s vehicle. Hannibal told police the glare was blinding and believed that McManus’s vehicle began to move forward once the light turned green for the southbound lane. Hannibal’s vehicle then moved forward and rear-ended McManus’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Hannibal was issued a warning for following too closely, resulting in an accident.

Accident While Leaving Driveway

Newtown Police report Elizabeth Cayer, 18, of Shelton, operating a 2019 Nissan Sentra, was exiting from a private driveway along South Main Street at 12:11 pm November 21. As Cayer’s vehicle was leaving the driveway, it impacted the vehicle of Mahmood Ahmed, 54, of Danbury, operating a 2018 Ford Transit, as it was traveling northbound.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Cayer was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way.

Struck Tree

Newtown Police report Katherine Allen, 16, of Newtown, operating a 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle, was traveling eastbound on Boggs Hill Road at 3:46 pm November 21. Allen’s vehicle began to negotiate a left-hand curve and then it began to spin. Allen’s vehicle then exited the roadway right, and went over a curb before the front of the vehicle struck a tree. The vehicle then came to a stop facing westbound.

No injuries were reported. Allen’s vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.

Allen was issued a written warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Failed To Grant Right Of Way

Newtown Police report that John Decker, 22, of Seymour, operating a 2015 Audi A6, was driving northbound on I-84’s westbound exit 9 off-ramp and came to a stop at the intersection of I-84’s exit 9 off-ramp and Hawleyville Road at 6:09 pm November 22. Aliz Mihok, 55, of Newtown, operating a 2008 Toyota Sienna, was driving eastbound on Hawleyville Road. Decker’s vehicle attempted to make a left turn onto Hawleyville Road, but did not grant right of way to Mihok’s vehicle. The rear driver-side of Decker’s vehicle then struck the front drive-side of Mihok’s vehicle in the process.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Decker was issued an infraction for violation of insufficient insurance and failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

Ran Off Roadway And Struck Picket Fence

Newtown Police report that Relio Dos Santos, 39, of Danbury, operating a 2007 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling eastbound on Main Street at 5:42 am November 23. As Dos Santos’s vehicle was traveling, it crossed the dividing line and ran off the roadway to the left and struck a three-foot high section of picket fence.

No injuries were reported. Dos Santos’s vehicle was not towed.

Dos Santos was given a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Collision At Intersection

Newtown Police report that Sharon Trudeau, 77, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2011 Infiniti G37, and Judith Simon, 75, of Southbury, operating a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, both stopped at stop signs on opposite sides of an intersection on Queen Street at 3:08 pm November 25. Simon’s vehicle was traveling straight, while Trudeau’s vehicle was turning left. Both vehicles began to go at the same time, striking on an angle front-to-front in the intersection.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No charges were filed.

Functional Damage To Both Vehicles

Newtown Police report on Monday, November 25 at 4:05 pm, Brooke Newton, 18, of Newtown, operating a 2003 Honda CR-V EX was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road and attempted to turn left onto The Boulevard. Henry Martin Terifay, 19, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2008 Ford F150, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road when Newton failed to yield right of way, causing the rear right end on Newton’s vehicle to strike the front right portion of Terifay’s truck. The collision caused functional damage to both vehicles.

Neither vehicle was towed, and both operators reported no injuries. Newton was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way at an intersection.

Deer Hit By Two Vehicles

Newtown Police report on Monday, November 25 at 5:15 pm, a Hyundai Sonata was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road when a deer ran into the roadway and was struck by the Sonata. The deer was then pushed into the southbound lane and was struck by the front of a 2018 Ram 3500 operated by Jason William, 31, of Southbury.

The Sonata did not stay at the scene, and the Ram was not towed. No injuries were reported, and the deer was not on scene when police arrived.

Chevrolet Versus Mazda

Newtown Police report on Tuesday, November 26 at 12:40 pm, Enrico Mariani, 76, of Southbury, was operating a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 LT on the westbound side of Church Hill Road, waiting to turn left into the east commercial driveway of 62 Church Hill Road. Robin Leedy Russo, 71, of Bethel, operating a 2023 Mazda CX-5, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road in the right turn only lane. Mariani started to cross over the eastbound lane when the front of his truck made contact with the driver side of the Mazda, causing damage to both vehicles.

No injuries were reported, and neither vehicle was towed. Mariani was issued a written warning for failure to grant right of way/restricted turn.

Both Operators Transported To Hospital

Newtown Police report on Tuesday, November 26 at 12:59 pm, Anthony Baiad, 87, of Newtown, was operating a 2005 Honda CR-V SE and traveling southbound on Queen Street when he stopped at the stop sign for the intersection of Mile Hill Road and Queen Street. Megan Leclerc, 26 of Amston, was traveling westbound on Mile Hill Road when Baiad pulled out from Queen Street. Leclerc struck Baiad.

Both operators were transported to Danbury Hospital, and both vehicles were towed. Baiad received an infraction for failure to grant right of way, and Leclerc was issued a verbal warning for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Three Vehicle Collision

Newtown Police report on Tuesday, November 26 at 2:42 pm, Ryan Davies, 33, of Derby, was operating a 2015 Toyota Camry and traveling northbound on Wasserman Way. Evelyn Torres Mogrovejo, 16, of Brookfield, was operating a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS and exiting the exit 11 commuter parking lot. Northbound traffic was stopped to allow Torres Mogrovejo to exit the parking lot. While entering traffic, Davies passed several vehicles, including a 2006 International 4000 Series 4400, operated by Allan McDaniel, 63, of Shelton.

The front of Davies’ car made contact with the driver side of Torres Mogrovejo’s car, causing her to spin. The front of Torres Mogrovejo’s car then rolled into the driver side of McDaniel’s vehicle, which was stopped. Newtown EMS was dispatched, but no injuries were reported. No vehicles were towed. Davies was issued an infraction for improper passing and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. Torres Mogrovejo was issued an infraction for operating without a license.

Deer Struck Twice

Newtown Police report on Tuesday, November 26 at 6:06 pm, Adrian Rodriguez, 32, of Danbury, was operating a 2023 Mack MD and traveling westbound on Dodgingtown Road when a deer ran out into the road and was struck by Rodriguez. The deer was sent into the eastbound lane where it was then struck by Guillermo Ballarino, 45, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Cadillac XT5 Luxury.

No injuries were reported, and the Cadillac was towed. The deer was deceased prior to police arrival and was removed from the roadway.

Collision On Left Turn

Newtown Police report Rosa Camas-Montero, 41, of Danbury, operating a 2014 Subaru Impreza, was traveling on Currituck Road at 9:15 am November 27. Kyle Meade, 28, of Brookfield, operating a 2016 KW T800, was traveling on Currituck Road in the opposite lane. Camas-Montero attempted to make a left turn onto Hawleyville Road and struck Meade’s vehicle.

Camas-Montero complained of minor injuries and was transported to Danbury Hospital. Camas-Montero’s vehicle was towed.

Camas-Montero was issued an infraction for failure to yield right of way to oncoming traffic.

Backed Into Mercedes

Newtown Police report June Ruggiero, 86, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2025 Subaru Legacy, was backing up in the parking lot of Caraluzzi’s at 2:34 pm November 27. Ruggiero backed into a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 owned by Christopher Maslowski of Sandy Hook.

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

Collision In Maplewoods Lot

Newtown Police report that Pasquale Sarracco, 55, of Brownfield, Maine, operating a 2020 RAM 1500, was attempting to leave a parking space in the lot of Maplewoods Assisted Living at 6:50 pm November 27. His vehicle struck a parked 2011 Toyota Camry owned by David Sambora of Newtown.

Sarracco left his insurance and personal information and left the scene.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken due to the fact that information was provided at the time of collision.

Arrested For Evading

Newtown Police report that officers responded to the area of Brushy Hill Road for a reported single car accident where the operator left the scene on November 29. A criminal investigation began and police identified Blerim Hodza, 59, of Danbury, as the suspect. Hodza was charged with operation of an unregistered motor vehicle, improper use of marker plates, illegal operation without minimum insurance, evading responsibility, and operation of an improperly loaded/built motor vehicle.

Hodza posted a $500 bond with a court date of December 10 in Danbury Superior Court.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Ross Beck, 22, of Monroe, operating a 2011 Ford Fusion, was traveling northbound on Botsford Hill Road at 11:05 am November 29. He was traveling behind a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 operated by Fatima Miguel, 62, of Monroe. Miguel began to slow down to turn left onto Little Brook Lane and Beck did not stop in time, rear-ending Miguel’s vehicle.

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

Beck was issued a written warning for following too close.

Deer Struck On Berkshire

Newtown Police report Grace Riggio, 27, of Milford, operating a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 5:41 pm November 30. A deer ran out of the woods into the roadway and Riggio’s vehicle struck the animal.

Riggio was not injured. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Failure To Obey Signal

Newtown Police report Christina Perullo, 38, of Bristol, operating a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road at 5:21 pm December 1. Gregory Canale, 50, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2020 Ram 1500, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road. Canale attempted to turn left onto Edmund Road but a witness stated Perullo proceeded through a red light at the intersection and struck Canale’s vehicle.

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

Perullo was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle with no insurance and failure to obey a traffic control signal.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that officers responded to a reported erratic motor vehicle at 8:31 pm December 1. The vehicle was stopped and the operator, Jennifer Harris, 46, of Newtown, was arrested on the charge of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Harris posted bond and was given a court date of December 10 at Danbury Superior Court.

Forced Off Road

Newtown Police report Kate McGrady, 42, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2021 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road approaching Toddy Hill Road at 8:54 am December 3. An unidentified vehicle, described as a blue medium sized SUV operated by a white male, forced McGrady off the left side of the roadway while merging into the left eastbound travel lane. McGrady’s vehicle drove up onto the median and collided with a State of Connecticut traffic sign.

Any person who witnessed the incident is requested to call the Newtown Police Department in reference to this case.