Intersection Crash

According to police, on September 8 at approximately 7:54 am, Susan E. Perusse, 33, of 57 Taunton Lake Road was operating a 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara eastbound on Flat Swamp Road. According to police, she collided with the back end of a 1999 Toyota Sienna van operated by Slobhan Deveney of 32 Meadow Lane, Glen Head, N.Y., which had stopped at the intersection of Flat Swamp and Poverty Hollow Roads. The collision reportedly caused damage to the right front end of the Suzuki and the left rear of the Toyota, but no injuries were reported. Both vehicles were drivable from the scene, and Perusse was issued an infraction for following too close.

Deer Into Car

On September 9 at approximately 8:06 pm, Timothy M. Leed, 52, of 20 Virgina Avenue, Fishkill, N.Y., was reportedly traveling west on Route 34 in the vicinity of Chestnut Hill Road when the operator reported a deer ran into the drivers side of the 1999 Ford Taurus he was operating. The impact caused damage to the left fender and door of the vehicle, but neither the operator nor his passenger were injured. The vehicle was driven from the scene following an investigation. Police said the deer was killed in the collision.

Rear-End Collision

On September 9 at approximately 2:10 pm, police said Soraida Muniz, 42, of 2415 Collingswood Boulevard., Port Charlotte, Fla., was traveling east on Mile Hill Road behind another vehicle being operated by Heather Zatlukal, 34, of Sandy Hook. As the two vehicles were turning onto Route 34, Muniz, who was operating a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, reportedly rear-ended the second vehicle, a 2004 Subaru Legacy, causing damage to her right front end and the rear left end of the Subaru. Muniz was issued an infraction for following too close. No injuries were reported.

Neon Vs Van

On September 9 at approximately 5:39 pm, Karen L. Kozakiewicz, 21, of 1873 Route 9 West, Milton, N.Y., was operating a 1999 Plymouth Neon east on Wasserman Way. According to police, as she and a second vehicle, a 1998 Chevrolet Astro van operated by Efrain Torres, Jr., 39, of Jackson Street, Ansonia, turned at the intersection of Berkshire Road, the van came to a stop for other stopped traffic and was reportedly hit from behind by the Plymouth. The collision resulted in front end damage to the Plymouth that was driven from the scene following an investigation. Kozakiewicz was issued an infraction for following too close. No injuries were reported.

Tree Hit

On September 10, police reported that George W. Schark, Jr., 17, of 128 Sentinel Hill Road in North Haven was operating a 2004 Dodge Neon southbound on Walnut Tree Hill Road when the vehicle reportedly crossed the northbound lane and collided with a tree on the driver side of the vehicle. Newtown ambulance crews and Sandy Hook firefighters responded to the scene, and subsequently, the driver was transported to Danbury Hospital for evaluation. No charges have been filed on the matter to date, but the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

License Suspended

On the afternoon of September 10, Miguel A. Valeri, 53, of Sunny Acres, Bethel, was observed by a Newtown officer operating a 2004 Infinity southbound on South Main Street. After the driver turned right on Huntingtown Road without displaying the proper signal, he was pulled over. Following a routine investigation, the officer involved learned the operator’s license was suspended. Valeri was subsequently arrested, cited for his offenses, processed, and released on written promise to appear in Danbury Superior Court on September 27.

Unsafe Lane Change

On September 12 at approximately 7:42 am, Karl F. Rickel, 50, of 44 Hearthstone Drive in Brookfield was operating a 2005 Saab westbound near Exit 10 on Interstate 84 when he allegedly made an abrupt lane change colliding with a 1996 Chevrolet S-10 pickup being operated by Brian T. Swander, 31, of Woodbury. The collision caused damage to both vehicles but no injuries were sustained. Rickel was issued an infraction for making an unsafe lane change.

 

No Front Plate

On September 12, Gary A. Hatstat of 30 Raymond Avenue, Canaan, was seen operating a vehicle on Wasserman Way. The Newtown officer reported that the vehicle in question was missing a front marker plate. After stopping the vehicle it was discovered that the driver was allegedly operating with a suspended license and he was arrested and charged for the offenses. Hatstat was then released on a promise to appear in court in Danbury on September 27.

DWI Charged

On September 12, a Newtown officer on routine patrol in Sandy Hook noticed a silver vehicle idling at a green light at the corner of Glen and Church Hill Roads. As the officer approached the vehicle the operator reportedly made an abrupt right turn and proceeded up Church Hill Road toward Newtown center. According to the report, as the officer followed, it was noted the vehicle was operating in an erratic manner, slowing and speeding up and crossing the yellow center line. The vehicle proceeded to the area of Glover and Main where it entered the left turn lane on Glover, before proceeding straight through a green light onto Sugar Street. At that point the officer pulled the vehicle over and reportedly detected a smell of alcohol on the driver, who subsequently failed field sobriety tests. The driver, Richard Madwid, 53, of 12 Lindberg Street in Bethel was arrested for driving while intoxicated and failure to obey a traffic signal. After processing and paying a $100 bond, Madwid was released with a scheduled court date of September 27.

Juvenile Charged

On September 12, a juvenile who police said is a student at Newtown Middle School turned himself in at police headquarters after learning of an outstanding arrest warrant for larceny in the third degree which was issued by Danbury Superior Court. Police held the accused for a September 13 hearing. According to the report, the warrant was issued following an investigation into checks and cash that were allegedly taken from a classroom at the middle school.

 

Vehicle Towed

On September 14 at approximately 3:27 am, Ahja Baker, 21, of 40 The Boulevard Drive in Danbury was operating a 1995 Dodge Neon eastbound on Glover Avenue when he failed to stop for another vehicle proceeding through the intersection at Queen Street. Police said Baker’s vehicle crossed Queen Street and crashed into brush. After a brief investigation, Newtown Police cited the driver for failure to obey a stop sign.

Stopped And Hit

On September 13 at approximately 8:10 am, Jenna K. Ryan, 21, of 100 Strathmore Road in Cheshire was operating a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix westbound on Interstate 84 about a half-mile east of Exit 11 when she collided with the rear of a 2003 BMW 325 XI being driven by Stacey C. Bernasconi, 25, of Southbury, who had come to a stop for traffic. No injuries were sustained in the crash and Ryan was issued an infraction for following too close.

Trespass

On September 15, Newington Police reportedly pulled over Christopher White, 20, of 131 Bears Hill Road in Bethany on a routine traffic matter when they learned of an outstanding warrant for his arrest related to an alleged trespassing infraction he received on the property of Fairfield Hills earlier this year. He was transported to Newtown where he was charged with the failure to respond to the original infraction, and was released on a $92 bond with a new court date of September 28.