Newtown Police Blotter Highlights For March 19-26

NEWTOWN, CT — A two-vehicle crash occurred Monday night on Church Hill Road, resulting in significant damage to both vehicles and a traffic citation for one driver.

According to the Newtown Police Department, a 2024 Volkswagen operated by Julissa A. Garcia of Yorktown Heights, New York, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road when it veered over the solid white fog line, striking a legally parked 2013 Audi Q7. The impact occurred on the front passenger side of the Volkswagen and the rear driver’s side of the unoccupied Audi. The Volkswagen continued approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop in the eastbound lane.

No injuries were reported, and the Audi was unoccupied at the time of the incident. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and needed to be towed away. The Sandy Hook Fire Department responded to manage automotive fluid spills resulting from the crash.

Police issued a written warning to Garcia for failure to drive in the proper lane.

North Haven Man Faces Harassment, Threatening Charges Following Parmalee Hill Road Incident

A North Haven man was scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Wednesday after being taken into custody in connection with an outstanding warrant.

On Tuesday, the Wallingford Police Department notified Newtown officers that David Bybel, 37, was in their custody. Bybel was later transferred to Newtown Police and charged with second-degree harassment and second-degree threatening, based on a warrant stemming from an earlier incident on Parmalee Hill Road in Newtown.

Police said Bybel was released after posting 7 percent of a $5,000 cash bond.

Southbury Woman Cited Following Traffic Stop on South Main Street

A Southbury woman is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court next month following a traffic stop on South Main Street.

Newtown Police say Michele Zommer, 63, was stopped on March 20 for a traffic violation and was later processed on a charge of failing to respond to an infraction.

Zommer was released on a cash appearance bond and is due in court on April 3.

Minor Collision Reported on Church Hill Road

Two vehicles sustained minor damage Friday afternoon following a lane-change incident on Church Hill Road near Commerce Road, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police say a 2021 Honda Civic driven by Lynne D. Hawley of Sandy Hook was traveling eastbound in the right-turn lane when it came into contact with a 2007 BMW 530xi, driven by another Newtown resident, who was also headed eastbound in the straight-ahead lane. The Honda reportedly attempted to change lanes, resulting in the passenger side of that vehicle making contact with the driver’s side of the BMW.

Both vehicles remained operable and were not towed from the scene. No injuries were reported. A passenger in the BMW, from Bridgeport, was also uninjured.

Hawley was issued a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Two Vehicles Damaged in South Main Street Collision

A two-vehicle crash occurred Saturday morning on South Main Street near Wills Road, leaving both vehicles with damage but no reported injuries, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 2023 Tesla Model 3, driven by a Newtown motorist, was stopped in the northbound lane while waiting to turn left into a parking lot at 150 South Main Street. A vehicle behind the Tesla moved around it on the right shoulder. A 2018 Honda Civic, driven by William P. Brady of Newtown, was traveling behind the non-contact vehicle and continued forward, striking the rear of the Tesla.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Brady was issued an infraction for traveling an unreasonable distance apart, contributing to the crash.

No injuries were reported by either driver.

Driver Cited After Delivery Truck Backs into Subaru on Mt. Nebo Road

A collision between a delivery van and a passenger vehicle on Mt. Nebo Road the afternoon of March 19 resulted in significant damage to one vehicle, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a Ford Transit van operated by Emre Sariaydin of West Haven was backing out of a driveway at 16 Mt. Nebo Road while delivering packages when it entered the path of a southbound 2011 Subaru Outback. The right rear of the van struck the right side of the Subaru, driven by a Newtown motorist.

The Subaru sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene. The van had minor damage and did not require towing. No injuries were reported.

Sariaydin was issued an infraction for unsafe backing.

Driver Cited Following Two-Car Crash on Hawleyville Road

A Pleasantville, NY, man was cited on March 18 after a two-vehicle collision on Hawleyville Road near Barnabas Road, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said Clarence A. Boykin, driving a 2023 Audi A4, was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road when he attempted a U-turn and struck a southbound 2020 GMC Terrain operated by a Southbury motorist.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage and did not require towing. No injuries were reported by either driver.

Boykin was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Two Drivers Taken to Hospital Following Crash at Exit 9 On-Ramp

Two drivers were transported to Danbury Hospital the morning of March 18 morning after a two-vehicle collision on Hawleyville Road at the Interstate 84 Exit 9 westbound on-ramp, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 2020 Subaru Forester, driven by Elaine Potoniec of Bethlehem, was heading southbound on Hawleyville Road when it attempted a left turn onto the I-84 on-ramp. The vehicle collided with a northbound 2023 Volkswagen Golf driven by a Wellington, FL, motorist. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage and were towed from the scene.

According to the report, Potoniec told officers she did not see the oncoming vehicle in time. Farrell reported that the Subaru turned suddenly in front of her vehicle.

Both drivers were evaluated at the scene by Newtown Ambulance personnel before being taken to the hospital. Potoniec was issued a written warning for failure to grant the right of way to oncoming traffic.

Two Vehicles Damaged in Botsford Hill Road Collision

A crash the morning of March 18 morning at the intersection of South Main Street and Botsford Hill Road resulted in significant front-end damage to two vehicles, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, driven by Gillian M. Manesis of Brookfield, was traveling west on Botsford Hill Road when it attempted to turn left onto South Main Street. At the same time, a 2017 Subaru Forester driven by a Monroe motorist was heading straight from Meadow Brook Road across the intersection toward Botsford Hill Road. The Volkswagen struck the Subaru in the intersection.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene due to heavy damage. Neither driver reported injuries, and both were wearing seat belts.

Manesis was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way while making a left turn.