Fender Bender On Dinglebrook

Newtown police report Edward Finkenstadt, 59, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4matic, was traveling southbound on Dinglebrook Lane on September 25, behind a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited operated by Joel Ochoa, 31, of Newtown. Ochoa’s vehicle made a sudden stop and the front bumper of Finkenstadt’s vehicle made contact with the rear bumper of Ochoa’s vehicle.

Neither vehicle required towing and no injuries were reported.

Hit Two Vehicles While Leaving Parking Spot

Newtown police report Robert Williams, 59, of Monroe, operating a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, was parked in the parking lot of 36 Keating Farms Road on October 9. While attempting to back out of the parking spot, the front hood area of Williams’ vehicle made contact with the passenger side rear quarter panel of a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer owned by Leslie Alldredge, 42, of Oxford. Alldredge was partially inside the vehicle, putting a juvenile passenger into a car seat. Williams began to back up his vehicle again and the rear of his vehicle made contact with the rear bumper of an unoccupied, parked 2014 Subaru Impreza Sport Premium owned by Thomas Condon of Brookfield.

No injuries were reported. No enforcement action was issued.

Rolled Back Into Vehicle

Newtown police report that Anna Farina, 57, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, was stopped uphill in traffic in the westbound right only travel lane of Mile Hill Road on October 19. Lisa Jackson, 42, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Cadillac Escalade Platinum, was stopped behind Farina’s vehicle. Farina’s vehicle rolled back into Jackson’s vehicle, and the rear bumper of Farina’s vehicle struck the front bumper of Jackson’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Farina was issued a verbal warning for unsafe movement of a stopped vehicle.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown police report Mark Maloney, 57, of Auburn, N.H., operating a 2005 DMC 2500, attempted to turn left on Edmond Road from a left side parking lot on Church Hill Road on October 20. William Hawthorne, 55, of Southbury, operating a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado K2500HD, was traveling south on Edmond Road, approaching Church Hill Road. The front right bumper of Maloney’s vehicle struck the left rear side of Hawthorne’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Maloney was arrested on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and failure to grant right of way on a private road. He was released on a $1,000 bond.

Police Seeking Hit And Run Driver

Newtown police report Nush Gjelaj, 70, of Redding, operating a 2019 Cadillac XT5 Luxury, was traveling southbound in the area of the Sand Hill Plaza on October 21. An unknown vehicle traveling northbound was reported by Gjelaj to have crossed the center line and struck his driver side mirror and then left the area traveling northbound without stopping. The unknown vehicle was reported by Gjelaj to be hauling landscaping equipment.

Gjelaj received minor injuries.

The Newtown Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance, asking that anyone who may have witnessed this incident and has further information should contact Officer Maryhelen McCarthy at the Newtown Police Department.

Uninsured Driver In Accident

Newtown police report Edna Ostendorf, 85, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2014 Kia Soul, was traveling eastbound on Hatterton Road in the area of Castle Meadow Road on October 22. Esperanza Kerne, 54, of Danbury, operating a 1998 CR-V LX, was traveling westbound on Castle Meadow Road in the area of Hattertown Road. Kerne’s vehicle turned right onto Hattertown Road while Ostendorf’s vehicle was turning left onto Castle Meadow Road. Ostendorf’s vehicle made an improper turn into the westbound travel lane of Hattertown Road and the left side of Kerne’s vehicle struck the front left corner of Ostendorf’s vehicle.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

No injuries were reported.

Ostendorf was issued a written warning for failure to drive in the proper lane and failure to carry insurance.

Driving Under The Influence

Newtown police report Eugene Reiske, 48, of Monroe, operating a 2015 Kia Forte, was traveling southbound on Hattertown Road going straight, on October 22. Ixcuna Ventura, 24, of Bridgeport, operating a 2013 Nissan Altima, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road and going straight. Reiske’s vehicle, while cresting a hill, crossed into the oncoming traffic lane and the driver front of his vehicle hit the driver front of Ventura’s vehicle.

Ventura was checked by Newtown EMS stating he had leg pain, but he was not transported. Both vehicles were towed by Newtown Sunoco.

Reiske was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and failure to maintain lane. He was given a court date of November 9.

Arrested For Disorderly Conduct

Newtown police report Richard Vega, 29, of Newtown, was arrested October 25 after coming to the department to be processed on an active arrest warrant. Vega was charged with breach of peace and disorderly conduct. He was released from custody on a cash bond with a court date of October 26 in Danbury Superior Court.

Jack-knifed Truck After Hitting Guardrail

Connecticut State Police report Kenneth Nicholas, 54, of Hamden, operating a 2021 FRG, was traveling in the center lane of three on Interstate 84 westbound, approximately four-tenths of a mile west of the Exit 10 on-ramp in Newtown.

Nicholas lost control of his vehicle, which left the roadway on the left and struck approximately 100 feet of metal beam guardrail in the median. As a result of the collision, the vehicle jack-knifed and came to an uncontrolled rest between left and center lanes.

DEEP responded to the scene for a fuel leak. DOT responded to assist with lane closure.

Nicholas’s vehicle was towed from the scene by Hilario’s Towing.

Nicholas was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown EMS.

Nicholas was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Flipped Vehicle On Wet Road

Newtown police report Cora Ruiz, 19, of New Fairfield, operating a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road on October 26. The roads were wet and the weather was rainy. Ruiz’s vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions and hydroplaned on the west pavement, causing Ruiz to lose control of the vehicle.

Police said Ruiz’s vehicle traveled through the westbound travel lane, spun around, and left the roadway. The vehicle flipped on its right side and came to rest off of the westbound roadway against a stone wall, facing westbound.

Ruiz was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.

No enforcement action has been taken at this time.

Ran Over Branch

Newtown police report Nicole Dibenedetto, 25, of Bristol, operating a 2019 Honda Civic EX, was traveling northbound on Sugar Street on October 26. A fallen tree branch was laying across both lanes of Sugar Street. Dibenedetto’s vehicle struck and drove over the branch, causing damage to the undercarriage and passenger side front tire.

No injuries were reported. No enforcement action was taken.

Traveling Too Fast

Connecticut State Police report Israel Hernandez, 42, of Highland, N.Y., operating a 2015 Volvo 999, was traveling in the right lane of three on Interstate 84 westbound, approximately one mile west of Exit 10 in Newtown.

Hernandez’s vehicle veered left, where it struck the metal beam guardrail and rolled over onto the grass median. The vehicle was towed by Hilario’s towing due to disabling damage.

Hernandez was evaluated by Newtown EMS but declined medical attention.

Sandy Hook and Hook & Ladder also responded, as well as DEEP personnel.

Hernandez was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.