Following Too Closely

Newtown Police report Dylan Keane, 34, of Monroe, operating a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, was traveling eastbound on Wasserman Way at 1:41 am November 24. Britney Brown, 22, of Milton, N.Y., operating a 2021 Jeep Renegade, was traveling eastbound on Wasserman Way and stopped at the red light at the intersection of Wasserman Way and Berkshire Road. The front of Keane’s vehicle struck the rear of Brown’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Keane was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Both Drivers Ticketed

Newtown Police report Anthony Meirelles, 20, of Lowell, Mass., operating a 2016 Honda Civic, was traveling southbound on Hawleyville Road at 5:07 pm December 3. Francisco Deleon-Medina, 37, of Danbury, operating a 2010 Nissan Armada, was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road. Police say Meirelles attempted to make a left-hand turn onto the Interstate 84 westbound on ramp in front of Deleon-Medina, and Deleon-Medina’s vehicle collided with Meirelles’ vehicle.

Meirelles was transported to Danbury Hospital via Newtown Ambulance for evaluation due to chest pain. Both vehicles were towed.

Meirelles was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way, and Deleon-Medina was issued an infraction for operation of an unregistered motor vehicle.

Rear-Ended On Berkshire Road

Newtown Police report Alexia Milroy, 27, of Ansonia, operating a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling northbound on Berkshire Road at 7:29 am December 5. Mitchel Melendez, 31, of Trumbull, operating a 2019 Nissan Altima, was traveling northbound on Berkshire Road ahead of Milroy. Police say Melendez stopped due to a traffic back-up and the front of Milroy’s vehicle struck the rear of Melendez’s vehicle.

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

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Camry Hits Forester

Newtown Police report Patricia Chura, 85, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2015 Toyota Camry, was stopped on Commerce Road at the intersection of Church Hill Road at 10:13 am December 5. Milan Pranger, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2011 Subaru Forester, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road. Police say Chura entered the intersection while Pranger was passing through the intersection. The front of Pranger’s vehicle made contact with the driver’s side of Chura’s vehicle, causing damage to both.

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

Chura was issued an infraction for failure to obey a traffic control signal.

Avoided Animal, Went Off Road

Newtown Police report Scott Similien, 37, of Bridgeport, operating a 2020 Ford Transit, was traveling eastbound on School House Hill Road at 2:04 pm December 6. While traveling on School House Hill Road, a coyote or fox ran out into the roadway from the north side of the road, causing the vehicle to swerve to the right. Police say Similien’s vehicle made contact with a curb along the roadway, before leaving the road into the front yard of a home. The vehicle became entangled in guide and communications wires from a Frontier utility pole and came to rest in the yard. The vehicle did not strike the utility pole.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

No enforcement action was taken.

Unable To Stop In Time

Newtown Police report Robyn Nickels, 60, of Newtown, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road at 2:15 pm December 6. She was traveling behind a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 operated by Christopher Gentile, 37, of Bethel. Gentile stopped for traffic and Nickels was unable to stop in time, rear-ending Gentile’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Nickels was given a verbal warning for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Problems With Used Vehicle

Newtown Police report Carolyn Del Rossi, 25, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2010 Jeep Patriot, was traveling on Berkshire Road at 4:28 pm December 6. She was traveling behind a 2019 Toyota Corolla operated by Benjamin Ziperstein, 17, of Sandy Hook. Police say Ziperstein slowed for a vehicle turning into a driveway, and Del Rossi could not stop in time, hitting Ziperstein’s vehicle front to back. Del Rossi told police she recently acquired the vehicle and it had been giving her problems.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Evading Responsibility

Newtown Police report Bianca Guzman, 69, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2002 Ford Focus, was traveling on Church Hill Road at 4:11 pm December 7. She was traveling behind a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Robert Denzel, 87, of Newtown. Guzman told police she saw Denzel’s vehicle stopped in traffic and went to apply her brakes to stop, but accidently hit the accelerator, striking the vehicle front to back. Police say an off duty Redding police officer passing by told Denzel he needed to remain at the scene, but Denzel left before the arrival of Newtown police. The off duty Redding officer had obtained Denzel’s plate and a Newtown officer contacted Denzel and responded to his home to collect his information and obtain details regarding the motor vehicle. Denzel told police he needed to get home so he didn’t wait for police to arrive.

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

Denzel was issued a misdemeanor summons for evading responsibility.

Both Injured In Collision

Newtown Police report Charles Casimiro, 54, of Yonkers, N.Y., operating a 2000 Toyota Prius, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road at 5:10 pm December 8. Mei Curro, 62, of Southbury, operating a 1998 Honda CR-V, was traveling southbound on Dodgingtown Road. Casimiro told police that upon coming to the intersection with Hattertown Road and Dodgingtown Road, he stopped for the stop sign and awaited a break to enter Dodgingtown Road. He said he proceeded into the intersection and was struck by Curro’s vehicle. Curro told police she approached the intersection with Hattertown Road and began to bear left to continue traveling on Dodgingtown Road onto Sugar Street, when Casimiro’s vehicle pulled in front of her. The front end of Curro’s vehicle struck the left front door of Casimiro’s vehicle.

Both Casimiro and Curro were evaluated by Newtown EMS for minor injuries, but both declined transport. Both vehicles were towed.

Casimiro was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

Struck Utility Pole, Rock

Newtown Police report Ronald Bottino, 55, of Trumbull, operating a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 10:05 pm December 8. Bottino’s vehicle left the roadway to the right, struck a utility pole, ran over a rock, then struck guide wires belonging to another utility pole.

Upon arrival at the scene, police say the vehicle was found unoccupied and Bottino was not found in the area. Upon further investigation, Bottino was taken into custody and charged with evading responsibility for property damage, speeding, and failure to maintain a lane.

The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.