Struck Electrical Box, Mailboxes

Newtown Police report Aiden Melrose, 18, of Douglastown, N.Y., operating a 2009 Audi A5, was traveling southbound on Cobblestone Lane at 2:53 pm August 22. While negotiating a left-hand curve in the roadway, Melrose’s vehicle started to slide on the wet pavement. Melrose was unable to regain control of the vehicle before traveling onto the southbound shoulder and striking an embankment. Police say the vehicle continued to travel on the southbound shoulder and struck an Eversource above-ground electrical box before rolling over and striking two mailboxes.

Melrose’s vehicle was towed. Newtown EMS was called but Melrose declined treatment.

Melrose was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions. An image from the crash appeared in The Newtown Bee print edition on September 2.

Key Ring Found

Newtown Police report that on August 25, a set of keys was located on the side of the road in the area of 5 Phyllis Lane. The keys were on a silver key ring with a blue rubber coin purse. The owner of the keys may pick them up at the Newtown Police Department.

Following Too Closely

Newtown Police report Meghan Tarpey, 18, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2014 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling westbound on Washington Avenue at 11:11 am August 25. George Pollock, 69, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2016 Honda HR-V, was traveling westbound on Washington Avenue ahead of Tarpey. Pollock slowed for traffic, and Tarpey did not slow, and the front end of Tarpey’s vehicle impacted the back end of Pollock’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Tarpey received an infraction for following too closely.

Off Road Into Tree

Newtown Police report Melissa Gonzalez, 18, of Monroe, operating a 2020 Toyota Corolla, was traveling westbound on Button Shop Road at 12:07 pm August 29, when her vehicle went off the roadway to the right and collided with a tree. Her vehicle then rebounded off the tree and came to rest facing east in the eastbound lane.

Gonzalez had suspected minor injuries. Her vehicle was towed.

Gonzalez was given a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Towed From Bush

Newtown Police report DE Granados-Romero, 22, of Bedford Hills, N.Y., operating a 1998 Honda Civic, was traveling northbound on Berkshire Road at 4:38 am August 31. Granados-Romero’s vehicle slid on the wet roadway on a left-hand curve, causing it to go off the roadway and across a driveway, and into a bush.

No injuries were reported. A private tow was utilized to remove the vehicle from the bush.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Trailer Hits Pole

Newtown Police report Christian Chantes-Montes, 32, of Bridgeport, operating a 2016 Ford F750 towing a 2017 Kaufman Trailer, was attempting to turn around in the intersection of Pastors Walk and Bayberry Drive at 4:38 pm August 31. While backing up during the turn, the trailer struck a utility pole.

No injuries were reported.

Chantes-Montes was issued an infraction for unsafely backing a vehicle.

Charged With DUI

Newtown Police report John Lipusz, 54, of Newtown, was arrested at 8:42 am September 1 on the charge of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of November 4.

Sideswipe While Passing

Newtown Police report Noordadeen El-Massri, 19, of Waterbury, operating a 2021 Alfa Romeo, was traveling westbound on Wasserman Way at 9:58 am September 2. El-Massri attempted to pass a 2012 Ford Focus operated by Caitlyn Boisvert, 23, of Naugatuck, which he says was traveling below the posted speed limit, in the right lane. As the lanes merged together, El-Massri’s vehicle sideswiped Boisvert’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles sustained minor damage. Both drivers work at the same location and reported the incident after arriving at work.

Police determined that El-Massri has a suspended driver’s license from New York and he was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Hit Vehicle In Driveway

Newtown Police report Diane Rand, 78, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Honda HR-V, was performing a parking maneuver in a driveway on Hattertown Road at 1:41 pm September 3. Susan Rand, 54, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Kia Optima, was in the same driveway. Police say the left rear door of the HR-V collided with the right front corner of the Kia. The HR-V then turned left and the right front corner of the HR-V struck a utility support cable for a utility pole.

No injuries were reported.

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

Three-Car Collision

Newtown Police report David Pitkat, 57, of Brewster, N.Y., operating a 2000 Honda Accord, was traveling south on South Main Street at 2:51 pm September 3. Sean Delohery, 64, of Newtown, was traveling south on South Main Street ahead of Pitkat. Nikita Kuzmitski, 21, of Monroe, operating a 2022 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling northbound on South Main Street.

Police say Delohery stopped for traffic, and Pitkat swerved to the left over the center line to avoid Delohery’s vehicle. Pitkat’s vehicle made contact with the driver’s side rear bumper of Delohery’s vehicle. The rear end of Pitkat’s vehicle then spun further into the northbound lane of travel, at which point it made contact with the driver’s side door of Delohery’s vehicle and the driver’s side front fender of Kuzmitski’s vehicle.

Pitkat’s and Delohery’s vehicles were towed. Pitkat and Kuzmitski were evaluated by EMS and declined transport. Delohery was transported to Danbury Hospital after complaining of neck and back pain.

Pitkat was issued a misdemeanor summons for misuse of registration plates, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and failure to drive right.

Trailer Hitch Damage

Newtown Police report Matthew Morgan, 51, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2017 GMC Yukon, was backing into a parking stall in the parking lot of 6 Queen Street at 1:04 pm September 4. While backing into the spot, the trailer hitch of Morgan’s vehicle made contact with the bumper of an unoccupied 1992 Toyota Cressida owned by Michael Salaris. When Salaris returned to his vehicle, he observed the damage. Morgan said he was unaware the trailer hitch made contact with Salaris’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

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

Veracruz Hits Pilot

Newtown Police report Bennett Samberg, 17, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2007 Hyundai Veracruz, was backing into a parking spot in a lot on Church Hill Road at 1:21 pm September 4. While backing into the spot, the right rear bumper of Samberg’s vehicle struck the front right bumper of an unoccupied 2014 Honda Pilot owned by Homera Pereira-Desouza.

No injuries were reported.

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

Intersection Crash

Newtown Police report Julio Merced, 18, of Trumbull, operating a 2010 Subaru Impreza, was traveling westbound on Hattertown Road and stopped at the stop sign at the intersection with Dodgingtown Road at 8:12 pm September 4. Merced said he was unfamiliar with the area and thought all directions had a stop sign at the intersection, so he came to a stop and then proceeded into the intersection. In the intersection, his vehicle struck a 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX operated by Richard Cuminale, 42, of Middlebury.

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

Merced was issued a written warning for failure to grant right of way at a stop sign.

Apple Wrist Band Found

Newtown Police report a child’s Apple ID wrist band was located on September 5 during the Labor Day parade. The owner is asked to identify the item at the Newtown Police Department to claim the property, and to reference case number 2200011583.