Flagpole Bumps

Oksana Sokolova, 28, of Derby received an infraction from local police November 30 for failing to drive a reasonable distance apart following a minor traffic collision November 30 around 10:42 am at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Main Street. According to police, Soklova was operating a 2008 Scion TC west on Church Hill Road approaching the intersection when she failed to stop and bumped the rear end of a 2006 Mercedes being operated by Linda Sykes, 58, of Sandy Hook. There were no injuries reported and both vehicles were drivable from the scene. The same day at about 12:57 pm, Kyle Degenhardt, 17 of Shamrock Road, Sandy Hook received a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart following a minor rear end collision at the same location. Degenhardt was operating a 1998 VW Jetta traveling westbound behind a 2003 Toyota Echo, which had stopped at the intersection, when he bumped the rear causing minor, damage to both vehicles, police reported.

On Ramp Collision

Police say that on December 4 at about 3:49 pm, Anthony Lattanzo, 27, of West Hartford was operating a 2009 Honda CRV traveling south on Hawleyville Road approaching the Exit 9 on ramp, when he failed to stop in time and collided with the rear of a 2013 Nissan Sentra being operated by Samantha Brown, 24, of Brookfield, who had slowed to turn left onto the highway. No injuries were reported and Lattanzio was issued an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart. Both vehicles were damaged to the extent they were towed from the scene, according to the report.

Police Seek Driver

Local police are seeking witnesses to a rear-end collision that occurred December 4 at about 1:54 pm on the Exit 10 off ramp to Interstate 84. According to the report, Elsie Beckoff was operation her 2012 Subaru Impreza traveling from the eastbound interstate when she stooped to turn onto Church Hill Road. Police say she was struck from behind by another vehicle that left the scene with front-end damage. No injuries were reported. Anyone witnessing the crash is asked to contact Officer Joseph Michael at 203-426-5841 and refer to case #2013-19162.

Multiple Charges

Police running radar speed enforcement on Swamp Road December 4 at about 7:15 am pulled over a vehicle being operated at 44 mph in a 25 mph zone. After a brief investigation, officers arrested the driver, Darren Thompson, 35, of Cedar Road, Danbury, after discovering his license was suspended. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up 0.55-ounce of marijuana, a glass pipe, rolling papers, and other paraphernalia. Charges included possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, operating under suspension, and traveling too fast. He was released later on a surety bond of $5,000 pending a December 18 court date.

Larceny Warrant Served

On December 5, Bridgeport Police contacted Newtown to inform the local department they were holding William Kundert III of South Main Street, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant stemming from a June 12, 2013, incident. According to the police, he was transported back to Newtown and charged with larceny sixth degree, credit card theft, illegal use of a credit card, receiving goods by illegal use of a credit card, identity theft third degree, and attempt to commit larceny sixth degree. He was released later on a promise to appear in court December 17.

Two License Suspensions

Police say both drivers involved in a minor rear-end collision on South Main Street December 5 were operating while their licenses were suspended. According to the report, Vinc Robinson-Bravo was operating a 1997 Honda Accord approaching 79 South Main Street when he collided with the back of a 2003 Nissan Altima being operated by Trudy Brown of Danbury who slowed for traffic. Brown complained of back pain and was treated at the scene by Newtown Ambulance personnel. Both were issued misdemeanor summons for operating with a suspended license, and Robinson-Bravo additionally received a summons for following too closely.

Wrong Way DUI

On December 6 at about 1 am, police stopped Roger Nava, 33, of Gregory Street, Bridgeport, for traveling west in the eastbound lane on Sugar Street. Upon stopping the vehicle, police report an odor of alcohol was detected. He was subsequently arrested and charged with driving in the right hand lane, operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possession of less than 0.5-ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Nava was released on a $100 cash bond pending a December 17 court date.

Following Too Close

Police say that at about 10:17 am on December 6, Eileen Blackman of Farrell Road was operating a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am northbound in the area of 39 Main Street when she failed to stop for a 2000 Infinity being operated by David Johnston, 31, of Copper Creek Circle that had stopped due to traffic. Blackman told officers that her foot slipped off the brake pedal. Minor damage was noted on both vehicles but no injuries were sustained. Blackman was issued a written warning for following too close.

Unsafe Passing

On December 6 at about 4:07 pm, police report that Linda Connolly, 46, of Brookfield was operating a 2001 Honda Odyssey northbound on Hawleyville Road, when she attempted to pass on the right side of a 2003 Jaguar being operated by Laura Hegarty, 55, of Smoke Rise Ridge, who had stopped to turn onto Farrell Road. The driver side of the Honda then struck the passenger side of the Jaguar causing minor damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported and Connolly was issued a written warning for unsafe passing on the right.

Slight Injury

Police say that on December 7 at about 7:36 pm, Jason Savoca, 17, of Hedge Meadow Lane was operating a 2004 Acura TSX eastbound on Church Hill Road when he failed to stop and collided with the rear of a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox being operated by John Siclari, 61, of Brookfield. Savoca sustained a minor hand injury, which was treated by Newtown Ambulance volunteers at the scene. He was also issued a written warning for following too close, and the vehicle he was operating was towed from the scene.

Outstanding Warrant

Police report that on December 7 at about 1:15 pm, Sidney Hoffman, 34, of Success Avenue, Stratford turned herself in after learning of an outstanding warrant. Danbury Superior Court issued the warrant as a result of a motor vehicle investigation stemming from an incident July 28 near the intersection of Toddy Hill and Berkshire Roads. Hoffman is facing charges of evading responsibility, failure to carry minimum insurance, and operating with a suspended registration. She was processed and released on a $500 nonsurety bond pending a December 19 court date.

Speeding And Suspension

On December 8 at about 2:40 pm, police observed a northbound vehicle on Swamp Road traveling at an unusual rate of speed and activated radar, clocking the operator Marie Kantzas, 25, of Pastor’s Walk, Newtown traveling 60 mph in a 25 zone. After pulling the vehicle over, officers determined she was operating with a suspended license. She was issued a misdemeanor summons and complaint ticket for operating under suspension and speeding, and subsequently released on a promise to appear in court on December 19.

South Main DUI

Following reports of an erratic operator December 9 at about 7:12 pm, police located and pulled over Luis Geovanny Clavijo, 40, of McDermont Street, Danbury. Following an investigation, he was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failure to drive in the proper lane, and operating without a license. Clavijo was subsequently released on a $1,500 bond pending a January 7 court date.

Courthouse Arrest

Newtown police say Rivardo Rojas, 19, of Riverside Road was arrested at Danbury Superior Court on December 9 on outstanding warrants stemming from arrests in 2012 and 2013. He was charged with disorderly conduct, violation of probation, interfering with a 911 call, criminal mischief third degree, reckless endangerment second degree, and failure to appear second degree. He was held on a $12,500 bond.

Birch Hill Crash

According to Police, on December 9 at about 10:33 am, Elizabeth Anesi, 44, of Ashford Lane was attempting to turn the 2007 Volvo she was operating on Birch Hill Road onto Hyvue Drive, when she was struck by a 2009 Toyota Camry being operated in the opposite direction by Andrew Martinez, 18, of Brushy Hill Road. Both vehicles sustained minor damage but were drivable from the scene police said. Martinez was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way at an intersection.

 

Highway Collision

On December 6 at about 6:05 pm, State Police report Robert Fonseca, 33, of Woodbury was traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 in the area of Exit 11 in a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta when he began slowing for traffic. The VW was struck from behind by a Robert Ammermann, 59, who was operating a late model commercial truck owned by Hertz Vehicles of Port Newark, N.J. No injuries were sustained and both vehicles could be driven from the scene. Ammermann was issued a violation for following too close.

Icy Spin Out

State Police issued a warning for traveling too fast for conditions to Shellean Walters, 38, of Waterbury after he reportedly lost control of the 2001 Toyota Echo he was operating just west of Exit 11 on Interstate 84 December 10. His vehicle slid on the icy surface and spun across the center lane and striking a cement barrier on the right shoulder. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

Hand Injury

Newtown Police report that at about 9:52 am on December 11 they responded along with local ambulance and Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue volunteers to 16 Philo Curtis Road after a report of an injured party. They discovered upon arrival that Robert Mormando was attempting to change a tire when the jack he was using slipped, causing the vehicle to slide on the snow-covered surface and trapping his hand between the vehicle’s tire and wheel well. He was freed by firefighters and treated at the scene.

State Vehicle Crash

During the snow event on December 10 at about 10:39 am, police say that Ronald Clinton, 53 of Manchester was operating a 2008 Chevrolet Impala owned by the State of Connecticut on the downward slope near 29 Button Shop Road when he attempted to brake and the vehicle slid off the travel portion of the road, striking a rock on the right shoulder damaging the tire rim. The vehicle then bounced off the rock, crossed the roadway and hit a utility pole, causing the pole to break, dropping wires across the road. No injuries were reported and both AT&T and CL&P responded to replace the pole.