Danbury Man Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter After Fatal Accident

DANBURY, CT — A Danbury man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter after police say he left the scene of a fatal accident in Newtown.

Roger Villa, 23, of Cleveland Street in Danbury was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado when it crashed into a tree at the intersection of South Main Street and Greenbriar Lane shortly after 2 a.m. on May 6, according to a Newtown police report.

Police had been dispatched to the area following a report of the truck being driven erratically northbound on Route 25. First responders found passenger Paltin Loja, of Danbury, in need of first aide and extrication from the truck.

Crews from Botsford Fire Department and Newtown Hook and Ladder were able to free Loja. He was taken to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

While responding to this accident, Newtown Police officers located Roger Villa walking northbound on South Main Street away from the scene, according to their report. Villa denied driving the truck at the time of the crash, said police, who took him to Danbury Hospital for his injuries.

Following an investigation, the Newtown Police Department received a warrant for Villa's arrest, and executed it on Monday. In addition to second-degree vehicular manslaughter, Villa was charged with third-degree driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, hit-and-run, DUI, and failure to drive in the proper lane. Villa was processed and held on a $250,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Tuesday.