DUI Arrest

Police received a report that an auto accident had occurred about 2:46 am on January 1 at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Toddy Hill Road in Sandy Hook, so they went to the area to investigate.

Police charged motorist Joseph Mentes, 37, of Newtown and Trumbull, with driving under the influence and with failure to obey a traffic control signal. After posting $100 bail following arrest processing, Mentes was released from police custody for arraignment on January 16 in Connecticut Superior Court in Danbury.

Fairfield Hills

Police report that at about 1 pm on New Year’s Day, January 1, two unattended vehicles that were parked at Fairfield Hills, “were broken into and items were removed.” Police ask anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in connection with the theft of items from the vehicles to contact them at the police station, 3 Main Street, at 203-426-5841.

Missing Boy Found

In a Code Red electronic message issued by police to residents on the evening of Monday, December 30, residents were asked to be on the lookout for a 16-year-old boy who had run away from his Hilldale Drive residence in Sandy Hook at about 4 pm that day, with his whereabouts unknown.

Police conducted a search for the boy, who was later located unharmed. He had been socializing with some friends.

Exit Ramp

A two-vehicle accident occurred on eastbound Interstate 84’s Exit 9 off-ramp at about 1:47 pm on December 29.

In that incident, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-350-4M-AWD sedan driven by Jason Wigglesworth, 42, of Brookfield, stopped at the stop sign at the end of the ramp and was then struck from behind by a 2017 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by Gil Darocha, 45, of Newtown, police said.

There were no injuries. Police verbally warned Darocha for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart. Police verbally warned Wigglesworth for failure to renew a driver’s license.

SUV Vs Tree

About 9:31 pm on December 25, motorist Suzanne Frank, 62, of Seymour, who was driving a 2019 Honda CR-V SUV northward on Bradley Lane, drove off the right side of the road and struck a tree, according to police.

Frank was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. No enforcement action was taken.

Intersection Crash

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the signalized four-way intersection of South Main Street, Meadowbrook Road, and Botsford Hill Road about 2:30 pm on December 25.

Motorist Albert Pudims, 74, of Stratford was driving a 2016 Nissan Rogue SUV northward on South Main Street and was planning to make a left turn onto westbound Meadowbrook Road, police said. At that time, motorist Elia Hennegan, 34, of Stratford, who was driving a 2018 Nissan Altima sedan, was traveling southward on South Main Street.

As the SUV was attempting to make the left turn, the two vehicles collided. Ambulance personnel went to the scene and treated Hennegan, but she refused to be transported, police said. Pudims received an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Pecks Lane

A one-vehicle accident occurred near the southern intersection of South Main Street and Pecks Lane about 10:08 pm on December 26.

Motorist Adam Pratt, 32, of Sandy Hook, was driving a 2014 Ford Focus auto southward on South Main Street and then attempted to turn left onto Pecks Lane, but he lost control of the vehicle and drove south of the intersection, leaving the roadway and striking a stone wall, coming to rest atop it alongside the northbound road shoulder, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issued Pratt an infraction on charges of failure to maintain the proper lane and driving without a license.

Wasserman/Berkshire

At about 9:23 pm on December 25, motorist Patrick Dalton, 35, of Sandy Hook was driving a 2009 Subaru Forester station wagon eastward on Berkshire Road, police said.

At that time, motorist Erin Neff, 18, of Newtown was driving a 2011 Jeep Wrangler SUV westward on Berkshire Road.

The Jeep then attempted to turn left onto Wasserman Way, but the two vehicles collided. There were no injuries. Neff was verbally warned for failure to grant the right of way.

Saab Strikes Pole

Motorist Joseph Paolini, 23, of Easton, who was driving a 2007 Saab 9-3 auto eastward on Swamp Road about 5:10 pm on December 18, took a turn in the road too abruptly and then skidded off the right road shoulder, striking a utility pole, police report.

There were no injuries. Police issued Paolini an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Three Vehicles

Police report an accident involving three vehicles on Cobblers Mill Road on December 28. Motorist Matthew Williams, 16, of Sandy Hook, who was driving a 2014 Ford Fusion auto westward on Cobblers Mill Road, struck an unoccupied, parked vehicle, which then struck another unoccupied, parked vehicle.

The other autos involved were a 2012 Hyundai Elantra and a 2011 Subaru Outback. There were no injuries. Police issued Williams an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Two Crashes

Police report that two accidents involving Subaru autos occurred at the same location only about seven minutes apart on the morning of December 29.

At about 10:11 am, motorist Cole Blankschen, 17, of Danbury, was driving a 2003 Subaru Legacy eastward near 16 New Lebbon Road, and while negotiating a left curve in the roadway, the vehicle slid on the wet pavement, went off the right road shoulder and then struck a utility pole. There were no injuries. Blankschen received an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

About 10:18 am, motorist Damien Arcides Almeida, 18, of Danbury, was driving a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX eastward near 16 New Lebbon Road, and while negotiating a left curve on the wet pavement, the vehicle skidded and went off the right road shoulder, striking the same utility pole, police said. There were no injuries. Almeida received an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Sedan Vs SUV

At about 1:12 pm on December 27, on westbound Interstate 84, near Exit 11, motorist Patrick Breault, 77, of New Bedford, Mass., who was driving a 2006 Toyota Camry sedan, struck the rear end of a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox SUV driven by Anastasia Damaias, 60, of Danbury, state police said.

Damaias and a passenger in the Chevrolet received minor injuries. Breault received a written warning for following too closely.

Interstate Collision

About 8:34 pm on December 26, near Exit 10 on eastbound Interstate 84, motorist Janet McDonald, 64, of Pompano Beach, Fla., who was driving a 2012 Toyota RAV-4 SUV, made an unsafe lane change and struck motorist Derek Schwalenberg, 37, of West Hartford, who was driving a 2016 Subaru BRZ, state police said.

There were no injuries. State police issued McDonald an infraction for making an unsafe lane change.

SUV Accident

Motorist Haley Grant, 21, of Tucson, Ariz., was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV eastward on Interstate 84, west of Exit 11, about 12:10 pm on December 24, when while in the left lane of three lanes, she attempted to change lanes but lost control of the vehicle and then struck some guardrailing on the highway median, state police said.

The Chevrolet then crossed the three eastbound travel lanes and struck a concrete barrier rail along the right road shoulder. There were no injuries. State police issued Grant an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane.