Tight Fit Causes Collision

Newtown Police report Jennifer Harris, 43, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2010 Ford F150, was parked next to a 2009 Hyundai Elantra owned by Bryan Johnston on October 29. Both vehicles were in designated parking spaces at 160 South Main Street. Harris’ vehicle was pulling out of the parking space and made a narrow turn, hitting the front left side bumper of Johnston’s vehicle.

Johnston’s vehicle suffered minor damage. Harris stated she was trying to pull out of the parking spot and realized that due to her vehicle’s size, she would not be able to make the turn. She said she backed up to try a different direction and did not realize she hit the bumper of Johnston’s vehicle.

Two Hit-And-Run Drivers

On November 7, Newtown Police report that two unidentified vehicles were involved in a collision with a 2017 Hyundai Elantra operated by Gracee Piazza, 23, of Newtown. Piazza was reportedly traveling west on Riverside Road, with two vehicles traveling behind her. One vehicle passed Piazza’s vehicle on the passenger side and hit the passenger side mirror. The other vehicle made repeated contact with the rear bumper of Piazza’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Driver Shaves Mirror Off Van

Newtown Police report Joseph Ortelle, 32, of Kensington, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Express Cutaway G350, stated he was passing a 1999 Freightliner M Line Walk-In Van operated by Mitchell Cavaliere, 22, of Monroe in the rear delivery driveway behind Caraluzzi’s grocery store on November 9. Ortelle’s vehicle caught the mirror of Cavaliere’s vehicle and pushed it forward into the small window on the passenger side of Cavaliere’s vehicle.

Cavaliere stated he was in his vehicle parked behind Caraluzzi’s grocery store when Ortelle’s vehicle tried to squeeze through and caught the mirror of his vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Improper Merge At High School

Newtown Police report William Maxi, 17, of Danbury, operating a 2003 Infiniti I35, was traveling in the right hand lane of the exit from Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road on November 9. Patrick Mahoney, 17, of Newtown, was traveling next to Maxi’s vehicle in the left-hand lane. Maxi’s vehicle attempted to merge into the left lane but struck Mahoney’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Rear Ended Stopped Car

Newtown Police report Christine Miller, 55, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2011 Kia Sorento, was traveling southbound on Mt Pleasant Road on November 10, behind a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury operated by Lindsay Glynn, 44, of Newtown. Glynn’s vehicle stopped to wait to make a left turn on to Pocono Road. The front of Miller’s vehicle struck the rear of Glynn’s vehicle.

Miller was evaluated by EMS on scene but not transported. Miller’s vehicle was towed from the scene due to damage.

Miller was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Tailgating Causes Accident

Kaitlyn Mawicke, 30, of Newtown, operating a 2015 Audi Q7 Premium Plus, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road near Toddy Hill Road on November 10, behind a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited S operated by David Pritchard, 34, of Newtown. An independent witness stated that Mawicke’s vehicle was tailgating behind Pritchard’s vehicle for multiple miles. Pritchard’s vehicle came to a stop in traffic, and Mawicke’s vehicle was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of Pritchard’s vehicle while in the intersection for Berkshire Road and Toddy Hill Road.

No injuries were reported. Mawicke’s vehicle suffered front bumper damage, and Pritchard’s vehicle sustained minor damage to a spare tire mounted to the rear of his vehicle.

Mawicke was issued an infraction for following too close and Pritchard was issued an infraction for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Misses Deer, Hits Pole

Newtown Police report Isabel Levy, 29, of Bethel, operating a 2017 GMC Acadia SLE, was traveling eastbound on Birch Hill Road On November 10. Levy’s vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a mailbox and then struck a Frontier utility pole.

Levy stated she was distracted by a deer that entered the road and caused her to swerve. The vehicle was towed from the scene. No injuries were reported.

Levy was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Hit Parked Car

Newtown Police report Susan Belanger, 51, of Newtown, operating a 2018 GMC Terrain SLE, was pulling into a designated parking space at Big Y Supermarket, 6 Queen Street, on November 11. As Belanger’s vehicle was pulling into the space, the front bumper/quarter panel impacted the left side of a parked 2019 Honda CR-V EXL owned by Joan Nickerson. Nickerson’s vehicle was unoccupied and parked properly in a designated parking space.

Belanger’s vehicle sustained damage to its right front bumper/quarter panel. Nickerson’s vehicle suffered damage to its left side. Witnesses stated they saw Belanger’s vehicle strike Nickerson’s vehicle, and then Belanger exited her vehicle and went in the Big Y. Police located both parties and they exchanged insurance information.

Flying Trampoline Strikes Bus

Newtown Police report Judy Reppucci, 63, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Blue Bird School Bus, said she was driving on Berkshire Road behind a pickup truck that was carrying a large object in its rear bed on November 11. Repucci said she saw the object in the bed suddenly become airborne, flying straight towards the windshield of the bus. She swerved the bus to avoid the object but it struck the driver’s side mirror that extends off the front of the bus.

The object was a medium sized trampoline with a mesh safety net.

No injuries were reported. Repucci said she did not get any identifying information of the pickup truck.

Collides With Guardrail

Newtown Police report Matthew Wheeler, 30, of Seymour, operating a 2011 Toyota Corolla, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road and had entered a right hand curve in the roadway on November 12. Wheeler’s vehicle left the northbound lane and crossed over the southbound lane and into the southbound shoulder, where it struck a wooden post and wire guardrail, knocking over three posts. The vehicle came to rest on top of the guardrail.

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

Rear-Ended Vehicle At Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Kevin Walder, 52, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 GMC Sierra K1500 Denali, was traveling west on Ethan Allen Road. Jeffrey Divito, 38, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, was also traveling west on Ethan Allen Road. Divito’s vehicle stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Ethan Allen Road and South Main Street. Walder’s vehicle was unable to stop in time and made contact with the rear bumper of Divito’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Walder received a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Arrested For DUI

Newtown Police report Michael Obre, 50, of Sandy Hook, was arrested November 16 on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive upon the right. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of November 30.