Hit Railroad Bridge

Newtown Police report Dominick Scavo, 77, of New Paltz, N.Y., operating a 2024 Freightliner tractor trailer, was traveling northbound on Currituck Road at 12:04 pm December 3. Scavo attempted to pass under the railroad bridge near Tunnel Road and the top of the vehicle made contact with the bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Scavo was issued a verbal warning for failure to obey signs.

Struck Tree

Newtown Police report Damian Hendricks, 46, of New Milford, operating a 2018 Honda CR-V, was traveling northbound on Hanover Road at 5:04 am December 4. While negotiating a left-hand curve, Hendricks left the roadway to the right and struck a tree.

Hendricks complained of a minor injury but declined medical evaluation or transport. The vehicle was towed.

Hendricks was issued an infraction for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Hit Utility Pole

Newtown Police report Emma Hanrahan, 28, of Danbury, operating a 2024 Toyota Corolla, was traveling northbound on Brushy Hill Road at 12:07 am December 5. While negotiating a curve, Hanrahan lost control of the vehicle due to the snow, crossing the double yellow lines and striking a utility pole off the southbound portion of the roadway.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

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

Too Fast For Conditions

Newtown Police report Sean Miller-Jones, 37, of Newtown, operating a 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling southbound on Toddy Hill Road at 1:54 am December 5. Miller-Jones attempted to make a hard right turn onto Turkey Roost Road and slid off the roadway.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Miller-Jones was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Collision Going Around Vehicle

Newtown Police report Jenny Regan, 34, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Subaru Forester, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 6:57 am December 5. Kimberly Satriale, 51, of New Fairfield, operating a 2014 Infiniti QX40, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road. There was a stopped, disabled, non-contact vehicle blocking both westbound travel lanes due to slippery, snow covered road conditions. Regan followed traffic proceeding around the disabled vehicle into the eastbound travel lane as Satriale was approaching, and Satriale’s vehicle struck Regan’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Regan was issued a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Reckless Driving Charge

Newtown Police arrested Christopher Portolese, 33, of Newtown, on a warrant for his arrest on December 10 in connection with a motor vehicle incident that occurred on June 2.

A witness told police that Portolese was operating a vehicle eastbound on Church Hill Road just prior to the intersection with Washington Avenue and Riverside Road at excessive speed, and attempted to continue straight onto Riverside Road but lost control of the vehicle due to the dip in the pavement and the slope of the road. The vehicle struck the stone curbing on the right side of the road and traveled along the curbing for 100 feet before crossing over the centerline, down an embankment, and overturning before coming to rest against a large bush and fence on a property at Riverside Road.

Portolese was charged with reckless driving and failure to maintain a lane. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of January 7 in Danbury Superior Court.

Box Truck Struck Bridge

Newtown Police report Anthony Owens, 27, of New Britain, operating a 2020 Hino box truck, was traveling northbound on Botsford Hill Road at 3:23 pm December 10. The roof of the vehicle struck the underneath of the railroad bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed after sustaining significant damage to the cargo area. No structural damage was observed to the bridge.

Owens was issued a traffic violation for use of a handheld device while driving and a verbal warning for failure to obey height requirements.

Hit While Entering Driveway

Newtown Police report Lluvia Alonzo, 22, of Bridgeport, operating a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 6:15 pm December 10. Erik Arpi, 17, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2014 GMC Acadia, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road, in the far right lane. Alonzo attempted to make a left turn into the Mobil Gas Station and Arpi’s vehicle struck Alonzo’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Alonzo was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at a private driveway.

Improper Turn

Newtown Police report Victor Manjarres, 63, of Waterbury, operating a 2017 Honda CR-V, was traveling on Main Street at 11:02 am December 15. Mohamad Jamal, 31, of Brookfield, operating a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling southbound on Main Street. Manjarres attempted a U-turn and collided with Jamal’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Manjarres was issued an infraction for making an improper turn.

Hit Stopped Vehicle

Newtown Police report Teodor Balan, 45, of Pawling, N.Y., operating a 2011 Mini Cooper, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 11:05 am December 15. David Rentz, 83, of Monroe, operating a 2020 Kia Telluride, was stopped in traffic at a red light at the intersection of South Main Street and Plaza South in the left most southbound travel lane. Balan rear-ended Rentz’s vehicle.

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

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

Backed Into Car At Light

Newtown Police report Jonathan Ennis, 63, of Mahwah, N.J., operating a 2023 Ford Transit, was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Wasserman Way at 12:11 pm December 15. Pamela Harrison, 28, of Shelton, operating a 2011 Toyota Rav4, was stopped behind him. Ennis was stopped past the white stop bar and attempted to back up so that he no longer was past it, but backed into Harrison’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Ennis was issued a written warning for unsafe backing.

Hit Cable Guardrail

Newtown Police report Bernard Vena, 67, of Stratford, operating a 1992 Dodge Dakota, was traveling westbound on Sugar Street at 5:21 am December 16. Vena’s vehicle struck a slick patch of snow and went off the eastbound shoulder of the road, striking a cable barrier.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Vena was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Slid Off Road

Newtown Police report Joshua Lewis, 23, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Mazda CX-5, was traveling eastbound on Alberts Hill Road at 7:02 am December 16. Lewis went off the road due to slippery conditions and struck several turn signs before coming to rest in a culvert.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Lewis was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Jesse Witherly, 43, of Prospect, operating a 2015 Nissan NV 2500, was traveling northbound on Dodgingtown Road at 8:27 am December 17. He was traveling behind a 2015 Ram Promaster 2500 operated by John Sharp, 36, of Bridgeport. Sharp stopped suddenly for traffic, and Witherly rear-ended his vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Witherly was issued a written warning for following too close.