Newtown Police Investigate Hit-And-Runs And Other Crashes

NEWTOWN, CT — Newtown police responded to multiple crashes and traffic violations over the past week, including two hit-and-run investigations and several minor collisions resulting in citations.

Hit-And-Run Reported In Church Hill Road Parking Lot In Newtown

Newtown police are investigating a hit-and-run that occurred in the parking lot of Sugo Gastrobar on Church Hill Road during the evening of June 16.

According to the report, a 2019 Hyundai Tucson, parked and unoccupied, was struck on the driver-side rear door by a sage green Volkswagen as it backed out of a nearby space. The Volkswagen, believed to have Connecticut license plate BU4075, left the scene following the incident.

No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department.

Driver Cited After Rear-End Collision at Church Hill and Queen Street

A driver was issued a written warning following a minor rear-end crash Friday afternoon at the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 2024 Lexus NX, traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road, had come to a stop behind a vehicle waiting at a red light at the intersection. A 2011 Chrysler Town & Country minivan also heading eastbound began to move forward when the light turned green and struck the rear of the Lexus.

The driver of the Chrysler, identified as Ronald Michael Poidomani of Newtown, was cited for following too closely.

No injuries were reported, and both vehicles were able to leave the scene without requiring towing.

Driver Cited After Failing to Obey Traffic Signal in Newtown Crash

A two-vehicle collision occurred on the morning of June 17 at the intersection of South Main Street and Button Shop Road, resulting in a traffic citation for one of the drivers, according to Newtown police.

The incident took place at approximately 8:33 a.m. when a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Ginette Theagene of Monroe, was heading southbound on South Main Street. At the same time, a 2024 Kia Telluride, driven by Sarah Guariglia Morgenstein of Newtown, was exiting the driveway of Plaza South at 276 South Main Street with a green traffic signal.

Police said Theagene proceeded into the intersection against a red light and struck the rear of the Kia. Both vehicles sustained damage but did not require towing.

No injuries were reported for any of the occupants, and airbags did not deploy.

Theagene received an infraction for a traffic signal violation.

Two-Vehicle Crash on Berkshire Road Results in Traffic Citation

A driver received a traffic citation following a two-vehicle collision on June 17 at the intersection of Johnny Appleseed Drive and Berkshire Road in Newtown, according to police.

The incident occurred around 12:19 p.m. when a 2020 Hyundai Elantra driven by Luis A. Cortes of Sandy Hook pulled onto Berkshire Road and then reversed unexpectedly, striking the front of a 2021 GMC Yukon operated by Jennifer Mae Luizzi, also of Sandy Hook.

Both vehicles sustained functional damage but did not require towing. No injuries were reported by any of the individuals involved, including a passenger in the Yukon.

Police issued an infraction to Cortes for unsafe backing.

Parking Lot Crash Reported on Queen Street

A minor two-vehicle crash occurred in a Queen Street parking lot in Newtown on the morning of June 12, according to local police.

The incident took place around 11:05 a.m. when a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Mario Zigerlig of Newtown, was turning southbound into a parking aisle while a 2015 Subaru Impreza, operated by Erin Elizabeth Wagner of Thomaston, was pulling eastbound out of a parking space.

The two vehicles collided during the maneuver. Police said both drivers spoke at the scene before the Silverado left the area. Wagner later contacted the Newtown Police Department to report the incident.

No injuries were reported, and neither vehicle required towing. The crash occurred on private property and no enforcement action was taken.

Hit-And-Run Driver Sought After Two-Vehicle Crash

Police are investigating a hit-and-run that occurred June 12 on Berkshire Road near Toddy Hill Road involving a pickup truck and a Nissan Frontier.

According to the Newtown Police Department, both vehicles were traveling eastbound around 3:03 p.m. when the crash took place in a section where two lanes merge into one. The pickup truck, described as a newer white model possibly made by Chevrolet or GMC, was initially behind the Nissan in the left lane.

As the lanes narrowed, the pickup accelerated to pass the Nissan and struck the front driver-side quarter panel of the Nissan with its rear passenger-side panel. The impact caused dents and paint transfer on the Nissan.

The pickup continued eastbound at a high rate of speed, briefly crossing into the westbound lane and placing several cars between itself and the other vehicle before leaving the area. The Nissan’s driver, a Sandy Hook resident, attempted to follow the pickup and later stopped at a gas station in Monroe.

No injuries were reported, and neither vehicle required towing. Police said the driver of the pickup left the scene without providing information and is currently unidentified. The investigation is ongoing and may result in criminal charges.

Police Say Driver Was Impaired in Three-Car Crash on Button Shop Road

A Norwalk man is facing multiple charges following a three-vehicle crash on Button Shop Road on June 11 that caused one vehicle to be towed and another struck by debris, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident occurred around 2:24 p.m. near the intersection of Button Shop Road and Little Brook Lane. Police said a 2013 BMW 750li, driven by Clifford Burns, 44, of Visconti Street, was traveling eastbound behind a 2019 Kenworth T880 utility truck when both vehicles approached a curve. As Burns attempted to pass the truck on the left, his vehicle entered the westbound lane and swerved to avoid a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 traveling westbound.

The BMW’s front right bumper struck the rear left of the truck, and debris from the crash hit the Mercedes, causing minor damage. The BMW sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene, while the other vehicles remained operable.

No injuries were reported by any of the three drivers, who remained at the scene.

Following a criminal investigation, police determined Burns had been operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In Connecticut, the legal blood alcohol content limit for driving is 0.08 percent for those 21 and older.

Burns was cited for operating under the influence, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, evading responsibility, improper attachment of license plates, resisting an officer, and assault on a public safety officer.

Minor Parking Lot Crash Reported at Nunnawauk Meadows in Newtown

A minor two-vehicle collision occurred the morning of June 4 in the parking area of Nunnawauk Meadows, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 1921 Chevrolet Colorado driven by Ray Clark of Newtown was backing out of a parking space at 2D Nunnawauk Meadows when the rear of the vehicle struck the right side of a parked 2019 Chevrolet Silverado owned by Nunnawauk Meadows Inc.

No injuries were reported, and neither vehicle required towing. Both vehicles sustained minor damage, and the collision occurred in the northeastern section of the parking lot.

Rear-End Collision Reported at Wasserman Way and Berkshire Road

A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Wasserman Way and Berkshire Road on the evening of June 16, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 2017 Toyota Camry operated by Cori Reese Rosenberg of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., struck the rear of a 2017 Kia Sorento driven by Mildred Yolanda Gonzalez of Newtown, which had been stopped at a red light in the far-right eastbound lane on Wasserman Way.

Rosenberg told officers she was checking for oncoming traffic and did not see the Kia stopped ahead of her. She said she was unable to stop in time before the collision occurred.

The Camry sustained a large dent and scrapes to the right front bumper, while the Kia was left with dents and scrapes to its rear bumper, which was no longer seated flush with the vehicle’s body. Neither vehicle required towing.

No injuries were reported, and emergency medical services were not requested. Rosenberg was issued a written warning for following too closely.

Deer Collision Causes Minor Damage to SUV on Mt. Pleasant Road

A vehicle struck a deer on Mt. Pleasant Road near Reservoir Road on the evening of June 16, resulting in minor damage but no reported injuries, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said Madhavan Kumar of Sandy Hook was driving a 2011 Honda Pilot southbound on Mt. Pleasant Road when a deer ran into the roadway. The vehicle struck the animal, which then ran off and did not appear to be seriously injured.

The impact caused damage to the front passenger-side bumper, including a broken fog light lens. Kumar and a passenger reported no injuries, and the vehicle did not require towing.

No enforcement action was taken.

Vehicle Strikes Pedestrian Sign on Church Hill Road

A vehicle struck a pedestrian crosswalk sign on Church Hill Road the evening of June 16, causing minor property damage but no reported injuries, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said Dorothy Rosenblatt of Newtown was driving a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek eastbound on Church Hill Road when the front of her vehicle struck a plastic pedestrian sign located within a marked crosswalk, approximately 375 feet west of The Boulevard.

The sign, which belongs to the Town of Newtown Highway Department, sustained damage. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle did not require towing.

Rosenblatt was issued a written warning for failing to drive to the right.

Driver Swerves to Avoid Deer, Crashes Into Rock on Mile Hill Road

A vehicle sustained significant damage after swerving off the road to avoid a deer and striking a rock on Mile Hill Road South, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident occurred around 4:05 p.m. on June 17 in the area of 66 Mile Hill Road South. Police said a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, operated by Mohammad Babar Ali of New London, veered off the right side of the northbound lane after a deer ran across the roadway. The vehicle collided with a rock and suffered disabling damage to the front passenger side.

The SUV was towed from the scene. The driver was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

The vehicle’s passenger reported no injuries and declined medical transport. Both occupants were properly restrained at the time of the crash.

Minor Injury Reported in Two-Vehicle Crash at Yogananda Street and Silo Road

A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Yogananda Street and Silo Road resulted in a minor injury and multiple citations, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:28 a.m. on June 14. Police said a 2011 BMW 335xi traveling west on Silo Road attempted to turn left onto Yogananda Street and collided with a 2022 Lexus RX 350, which was traveling northbound on Yogananda and attempting a right turn onto Silo.

Both vehicles sustained damage and were towed from the scene. The BMW was towed to a residence in Sandy Hook, and the Lexus was transported to Sunoco’s facility at 71 South Main St.

The driver of the BMW, Kyle William Turk of Newtown, received an infraction for making a restricted turn and a verbal warning for failing to stop at a stop sign. The driver of the Lexus, Bryan K. Atherton of Sandy Hook, received a misdemeanor summons for operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

Atherton reported a possible injury but was not transported to a hospital. No other injuries were noted. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and no airbags deployed in either vehicle.

Driver Cited After Two-Vehicle Crash at Toddy Hill and Berkshire Roads

A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Toddy Hill Road on June 12 resulted in one driver receiving a traffic citation, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said the incident occurred around 4:58 p.m. when a 2024 Ford Transit van, operated by Alexander L. Rotas of Southbury, attempted to make a right turn from Berkshire Road onto Toddy Hill Road and struck a 2019 Dodge Durango that had been stopped at the intersection, waiting for the traffic signal.

Both drivers — Rotas and Anthony Nitopi of Sandy Hook — reported no injuries. The Durango sustained damage and was towed from the scene. The Ford van was not towed.

Rotas was issued an infraction for failure to drive to the right.