Sandy Hook Accident

Motorist Alexander Montero, 24, of Ansonia, who was driving a 1988 Chevrolet K-2500 truck, stopped at a stop sign at the southern end of Bennetts Bridge Road and was waiting the make a left turn onto eastbound Route 34 at about 4:07 pm July 12, police report.

At that time, motorist Lisa Bishop, 36, of Monroe was driving a 1995 Volkswagen Jetta sedan westward on Route 34, police said.

As the truck was making the left turn, the two vehicles collided. Bishop reported back pain, police said. Police issued Montero a written warning for a stop sign violation.

South Main Crash

Motorist Peter Rogowski, 88, of Shelton, who was driving a 1998 Oldsmobile 88 sedan southward on South Main Street, stopped for traffic that was in front of him near 151 South Main Street about 8:13 am July 5, police report.

Motorist Joan Bartolotta, 57, address unknown, who was driving a 1998 Hyundai Accent sedan southward, was distracted by her ringing cellular telephone and then drove into the rear end of the Oldsmobile, police said.

Rogowski reported neck pain and was evaluated at the scene by ambulance staffers, but refused further medical attention, police said.

Police issued Bartolotta a written warning for use of a handheld mobile telephone while driving.

Flagpole

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the Main Street flagpole about 6 pm July 11.

The collision involved motorist Jeffrey Hansen, 51, of 7 Concord Ridge Road, who was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Astrovan, and motorist Robert O’Neil, 45, of Bethel, who was driving a 2001 Saturn SW-2 station wagon, police said. O’Neil reported knee pain, police said. Police issued Hansen a written warning for passing on the right.

Castle Hill MVA

Motorist Daniel Sprague, 20, of Milford, who was driving a 1997 Ford E-250 van eastward near 10 Castle Hill Road about 5:50 pm July 13, attempted to negotiate a curve in the road near King Street, but the van slid on the wet road, entered the westbound lane and struck curbing along the westbound road shoulder, police report.

Sprague was not injured. Police said that Sprague failed to drive to the right.

Riverside Road

About 11:56 pm July 14, motorist Vincent Leo, 18, of Waterbury, who was driving a 1995 Saturn SL-1 sedan northward on Bancroft Road, did not stop at a stop sign there and made a left turn onto westbound Riverside Road, police said.

The Saturn went out of control, went off the road’s right shoulder and struck a tree head-on, police said. Leo, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not injured, police said. Police issued him a written warning for failure to obey a stop sign.

DUI Arrest

About 4:20 pm July 15, police received a report of an erratic motorist driving northward on South Main Street, so they sought to find the driver.

Police said they spotted the offending motorist traveling northward on Currituck Road, after which he turned right to enter Hawleyville Road, but struck some curbing. Although it was raining, the vehicle did not have its headlamps illuminated, police said.

After stopping the vehicle and investigating, police arrested motorist Douglas Mihalko, 37, of Brookfield on charges of driving under the influence, making a restricted turn, and driving without illuminated headlamps in the rain.

After arrest processing at the police station, Mihalko posted $100 bail and was released for arraignment in Danbury Superior Court on August 1.

MV Violations

About 5:30 pm July 16, police noticed that motorist Howard Gaffan, 23, of Guilford was intentionally making “chirping” noises with his vehicle’s spinning tires on Mt Pleasant Road, so they stopped him to investigate. Gaffan’s vehicle’s exhaust pipe also was dragging on the pavement, police said.

Gaffan was charged with making an unsafe movement, driving a vehicle with an improper exhaust system, and driving while under suspension.

After Gaffan posted $140 bail, police released him from custody for an August 1 court appearance.

Queen Street

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Queen Street and Mile Hill Road about 9:50 am July 12. Queen Street traffic is controlled by a stop sign there.

In that low-speed collision, southbound motorist Elizabeth Morgan, 67, of 84 Church Hill Road, who was driving a 1992 Chevrolet pickup truck southward on Queen Street, struck the rear end of a southbound 1993 Suzuki sedan driven by Krikor Haladgain, 58, of 7 Crow’s Nest Lane, police report. Police issued Morgan a written warning for traveling at an unsafe distance.

Toddy Hill Crash

Police report a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Toddy Hill Road and Sugarloaf Road at about 6:20 pm on July 15.

Motorist Fred Laflamme, 63, of Southbury, who was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi sedan southward on Toddy Hill Road, stopped and was waiting for northbound traffic to clear so that he could turn left onto Sugarloaf Road, police report.

Southbound motorist Krystal Miller, 18, of Elko, Minnesota, who was driving a 1994 Mercury minivan, stopped behind the Mitsubishi, police said.

Southbound motorist David Russo, 49, of Trumbull, who was driving a 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck, then struck the rear end of Mercury, pushing the Mercury into the rear end of the Mitsubishi, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issued Russo an infraction ticket for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Two Charges

Police said they charged Anthony Moore, 47, of Seymour on July 15 with sixth degree larceny and with interfering with police in connection with a shoplifting incident at Sand Hill Plaza on South Main Street. Police said they released Moore on $500 bail for an August 1 appearance in Danbury Superior Court. 

I-84 Violations

State police said they stopped motorist Robert Laporte, 53, of Danbury for motor vehicle violations near Exit 9 of westbound Interstate 84 at about 4:40 pm July 10.

State police said they arrested Laporte on charges including possession of stolen marker plates, driving while under suspension, misuse of marker plates, driving an unregistered vehicle, and driving without automotive insurance.

After Laporte posted $1,000 bail, state police released him for a July 24 court appearance.

MV Charges

Police report that they were using speed-detection radar from a fixed point about 9:45 am July 17, when they found that motorist Barbara Bellemare, 40, of 138 Underhill Road was exceeding the posted speed limit on Pole Bridge Road.

Police charged Bellemare with traveling too fast for conditions and with driving while under suspension. After she posted $100 bail, police released Bellemare for an August 3 court appearance.

Minivan Vs Pole

At about 9:30 am July 17, motorist George Nelson, 68, of Bethel was driving a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country minivan northward near 195 Hattertown Road, when he reached to the right for a juice drink but then veered to the right, hitting a utility pole, which cracked near its base, police said.

The minivan came to rest in a ditch about 15 feet from the pole, police said. Nelson reported no injuries and refused medical attention. Police issued him an infraction ticket for making a restricted turn.

Four Charges

While on patrol on South Main Street about 6:37 pm July 18, police spotted motorist Phillip J. DaCosta, 29, of Bridgeport driving a vehicle that did not have a front marker plate.

After stopping the vehicle, police said they investigated and searched the vehicle. DaCosta was arrested on charges of failure to display a marker plate, driving while under suspension, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After arrest processing, DaCosta was released on $60 bail for an August 1 court appearance.

Main Street Accident

Police report a three-vehicle accident on Main Street in front of the police station about 5 pm July 18.

Motorist Anthony Benedetto, 42, of Monroe, who was driving a 2000 Chrysler minivan southward on South Main Street, stopped at a red traffic signal, police said. Southbound motorist Kevin McKerney, 52, of 22 Great Ring Road, who was driving a 2005 Subaru station wagon, then stopped behind the Chrysler, police said.

Southbound motorist Barbara Bombaci, 50, of 45 Scudder Road, who was driving a 1997 Volvo sedan, then started moving too soon, striking the rear end of the Subaru and pushing the Subaru into the rear end of the Chrysler, police said.

There were no injuries. Police gave Bombaci an infraction ticket for making an unsafe start.

Glover Avenue

A two-vehicle accident occurred on Glover Avenue about 2:38 pm July 18.

Motorist Ann Benere, 42, of 9 Meadow Road, who was driving a 2005 Volkswagen GTI sedan, struck the right front side of a 1999 Honda Odyssey minivan driven by Margaret Pearson, 47, of 56 Elm Drive, police said. Police verbally warned Benere for improper passing on the right.

 

DUI Charge

Police said they stopped motorist Leslie Diiorio, 41, of 5 Fox Run Lane at about 1:14 am on July 20 at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Main Street, after which they gave her field sobriety tests.

Police said they charged Diiorio with driving under the influence and with a turn signal violation. After processing the case, police released Diiorio on $50 bail for an August 8 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Four Violations

Police said they stopped motorist Miguel Arpi, 25, of Danbury on Wasserman Way about 5 pm on July 19 because the vehicle he was driving had a cracked windshield.

Police charged Arpi with driving a vehicle with a broken windshield, misuse of marker plates, driving without a license, and driving without automotive insurance.

Arpi posted $380 bail and was released for an August 3 court appearance.

MVA Warrant

On July 19, police arrested Emilio Hernandez, 33, of New Haven on a warrant in connection with a June 8 accident on Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook. Police charged Hernandez with following too closely, driving while under suspension, and driving an unregistered vehicle. After posting $250 bail, Hernandez was released for an August 9 court appearance.