Driver Accused Of Abandoning Smashed Tesla After Westport Crash: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 50-year-old Fairfield man was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, evading responsibility and related violations, after Westport police said he abandoned his damaged Tesla in the middle of Sturges Highway following a crash.

Joshua Burwick turned himself in at Westport Police Headquarters on Monday and was charged with the following in connection with the July 17 incident:

• Evading responsibility
• Traveling too fast for conditions
• Failure to drive upon the right
• Second-degree reckless endangerment

According to Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso, police were alerted to a crash by iPhone crash detection in the 200 block of Sturges Highway just after 9 p.m. on the 17th.

"Telephone contact was made twice with the party who possessed the phone and this individual twice denied being involved in a motor vehicle accident," Prezioso wrote in a news release. "This was contrary to what was conveyed by a witness who reported a damaged and disabled Tesla sedan unoccupied in the middle of the road as well as a male walking away from the scene."

While investigating the crash, officers determined that the Tesla "left the roadway twice striking several large rocks and
sustaining significant damage before becoming disabled in the middle of the travel portion of the road."

The Tesla is registered to Burwick, who police allege was driving the vehicle at the time.

Westport police obtained a warrant for Burwick's arrest, which resulted in him turning himself in on Monday.

Burwick was released after posting bond on bail of $5,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Aug. 10.