Rear-Ended At Flag Pole

Newtown Police report Hans Zuehike, 87, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2014 Chevrolet Impala, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 2:21 pm May 6. Suzanne DeYoung, no age or town provided in the report, operating a 2024 Volvo Xc40, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road ahead of Zuehike. DeYoung stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Main Street. The front of Zuehike’s vehicle struck the rear of DeYoung’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Zuehike was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Struck Railroad Bridge

Newtown Police report David Eaton, 18, of Waterbury, operating a 2018 Ford Escape, was traveling south on The Boulevard at 9:45 pm May 15. Eaton attempted to navigate the curve at the railroad bridge and continued straight into the guardrail crossing the oncoming travel lane. The vehicle bounced off the guardrail, crossed both travel lanes, and struck the concrete bridge wall before stopping in the middle of the roadway.

Eaton was transported to Danbury Hospital for unknown injuries. The vehicle was towed.

Eaton was given a verbal warning for traveling unreasonably fast.

Hit Two Signs

Newtown Police report Lizmel Estrella, 21, of Bridgeport, operating a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, was traveling eastbound on Swamp Road and negotiating a left turn at 7:43 am May 17. Estrella’s vehicle ran off the roadway to the right and struck two left curve signs before coming to a stop on the side of the road.

Estrella was transported to Danbury Hospital for a possible injury. The vehicle was towed.

Estrella was issued a misdemeanor summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Luis Almonte, 70, of Danbury, operating a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC, was traveling on South Main Street at 10:47 am May 21. Ralph D’Amico, 57, of New Milford, operating a 2014 GMC Savana, was stopped at the intersection of South Main Street and the driveway of 228 South Main, ahead of Almonte. Almonte rear-ended D’Amico’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Almonte was issued an infraction for following too close.

Struck School Bus

Newtown Police report Sean McCormick, 42, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Rivi R1s, was exiting a driveway on Serene Way at 3:24 pm May 23. Dante Dasaro, 31, of Sandy Hook, operating an All Star school bus, was traveling eastbound on Serene Way. The front end of McCormick’s vehicle struck the back driver’s side panel of the bus.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Collision Making Left Turn

Newtown Police report Michael Festa, 51, of Shelton, operating a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 12:26 pm May 24. Daniel Husvar, 45, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Subaru Impreza, was traveling westbound ahead of Festa, attempting to make a left turn into the driveway of 5 Queen Street. Festa rear ended Husvar’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Festa was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain the proper lane.

Hit Leaving Driveway

Newtown Police report Connor Kelly, 16, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2014 Acura RDX, was turning left from a driveway on South Main Street at 6:34 pm May 24. Joseph DeFreitas, 51, of Monroe, operating a 2000 Ford Econoline, was traveling northbound on South Main Street. Kelly’s vehicle struck DeFreitas’ vehicle.

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

Kelly was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way from a driveway.

Jeep Hits Toyota

Newtown Police report Christopher Mamone, 45, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling southbound on Hawleyville Road at 2:57 pm May 25. He was traveling behind a 2021 Toyota Rav4 operated by Phillip Gagnebin, 36, of Danbury, who stopped at the light at the intersection with Mt Pleasant Road. The front of Mamone’s vehicle struck the rear of Gagnebin’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Mamone was issued an infraction for following too close.

Hit Curb And Bushes

Newtown Police report Daniel Byas, 35, of New Haven, operating a 2017 Nissan Altima, was traveling northbound on Mt Pleasant Road near Blackman Road at 5:20 am May 26. Byas’s vehicle left the roadway, hit a curb, and collided with bushes until it came to a rest on its side in a wooded median between Mt Pleasant and Blackman Road.

Byas was transported to Danbury Hospital with possible minor injuries. The vehicle was towed.

Byas was arrested and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension, DUI, failure to drive in the proper lane, illegal carrying of a firearm while under the influence, and failure to conceal firearm.

Struck Tree, Flipped Car

Newtown Police report Izequias Pereira-DeOliveira, 23, of Monticello, N.Y., operating a 2019 Honda CR-V, was traveling northbound on New Lebbon Road at 8:52 pm May 26. Pereira-DeOliveira’s vehicle veered off the roadway right and struck a tree, before flipping over on its roof. Pereira-DeOliveira told police he veered to avoid a deer in the road.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Pereira-DeOliveira received a verbal warning for making a restricted turn.

Friendly Wave Leads To Collision

Newtown Police report George Keith, 77, of Hightstown, N.J., operating a 1997 Jeep Cherokee, was in the westbound travel lane of Church Hill Road waiting for eastbound traffic to clear to make a left into 62 Church Hill Road. Hayley Anderson, 16, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Mazda CX-5, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road. A non-contact operator allowed Keith to turn left, and Keith drove across the eastbound travel lanes, colliding with Anderson’s vehicle.

Anderson complained of a possible injury but was not transported. Anderson’s vehicle was towed.

Keith was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way while making a left turn.

Nissan Strikes Subaru

Newtown Police report Sean Garcia, 18, of Danbury, operating a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 1:21 pm May 30. He was traveling behind a 2002 Subaru Legacy operated by Gavin Taylor, 17, of Newtown. Taylor came to a stop, waiting to make a left turn onto Taunton Lane. Garcia was unable to stop in time and rear-ended Taylor’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Garcia was issued a written warning for following too close.

Rear-Ended On Berkshire Road

Newtown Police report Elizabeth Cain, 72, of Newtown, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 2:24 pm May 30. She was approaching a 2022 Toyota 4Runner operated by Ayden Paulos, 17, of Newtown. Paulos stopped for traffic and Cain was unable to stop in time, and rear-ended Paulos’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Cain was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that Christopher Leibold, 34, of Newtown, turned himself in to Newtown Police Department at 4:12 pm May 30 on an outstanding warrant stemming from a motor vehicle accident that occurred in November 2023. Leibold was arrested on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Leibold was released on a promise to appear with a court date of June 12 in Danbury Superior Court.

Street Sweeper Stop Causes Incident

Newtown Police report Benjamin Cruson, 34, of Newtown, operating a 2010 Chevrolet Impala, was traveling eastbound on Sugar Street at 7:51 am May 31. He was traveling behind a 2013 Honda CR-V operated by Dylan Willinger, 17, of Newtown. Willinger came to a stop for a street sweeper cleaning the eastbound lane. Cruson was unable to stop in time, and rear-ended Willinger’s vehicle.

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

Cruson was issued an infraction for following too close.

Flipped Car Onto Roof

Newtown Police report Brian McDermott, 33, of New Milford, was traveling northbound on Dodgingtown Road at 4:54 pm June 3. McDermott’s vehicle left the roadway right and struck an embankment, before flipping over onto its roof.

McDermott was examined for an injury but not transported. The vehicle was towed.

McDermott was issued a verbal warning for making a restricted turn.

Hit And Run

Newtown Police report Kimberly Milewski, 37, of Bristol, operating a 2022 BMW X3, was parked in the parking lot of 6 Queen Street from 6 am to 5:30 pm June 3. Milewski observed a minor paint transfer mark on the front right corner of her vehicle upon returning to it at the end of her shift.

There were no witnesses to the incident and damage was so minor police believe the other operator may not have realized they hit Milewski’s vehicle.

Jeep Hits BMW

Newtown Police report Shawn Cipriano, 26, of Woodbury, operating a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling southbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 5:43 pm June 3. Albert Bonilla, 33, of Danbury, operating a 2006 BMW 325i, was traveling southbound on Mt Pleasant Road ahead of Cipriano. Cipriano’s vehicle rear-ended Bonilla’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Cipriano was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

DUI Arrest

Newtown Police report that Savannah Davidow, 24, of Newtown, was arrested at 1:11 am June 4 on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive in the proper lane. She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of June 20 in Danbury Superior Court.