Newtown Police Respond To Domestic Cases, Tesla Crash, and Hit-And-Runs

NEWTOWN, CT — A series of recent incidents in Newtown included a domestic case with multiple charges, a Tesla crashing into two homes, and several hit-and-run and rear-end collisions, all prompting responses from local police without major injuries.

Vehicle Damaged in Hit-and-Run Incident on Queen Street

A Chevrolet SUV sustained damage in a hit-and-run incident on Queen Street late last month, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse, owned by Dennis Oddo of Newtown, was parked between 11:05 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on June 26 when an unknown vehicle reportedly scratched the SUV’s passenger front panel and then left the scene.

The incident occurred in the area of Queen Street and did not involve any injuries. According to police, surveillance cameras at the location did not capture the incident. The vehicle was not towed.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department.

Driver Leaves Scene After Rear-End Crash at South Main and Mile Hill Road Intersection

Newtown police are investigating a two-vehicle crash in which one driver left the scene before officers arrived.

The incident occurred around 6:42 p.m. on June 24 at the intersection of South Main Street and Mile Hill Road, according to a police report.

Investigators said a 2019 Honda Fit, operated by Christine Marie Kokinchak of Southbury, was stopped at the intersection, waiting to turn left onto Mile Hill Road. While she was waiting, the Honda was struck from behind by a 2019 Ford Fusion operated by Leonardo Alves of Woodbury.

The Honda sustained minor cosmetic damage. Both drivers reported no injuries, and airbags did not deploy in either vehicle.

Police noted that the Ford Fusion left the scene before their arrival. The crash remains under investigation.

Single-Vehicle Crash on South Main Street Sends Driver to Hospitaln

A Monroe woman was transported to Danbury Hospital for evaluation following a single-vehicle crash in Newtown on the night of July 1, according to police.

Shortly before 9 p.m., a 2009 Cadillac Escalade driven by Rebecca Wood, 70, was traveling southbound on South Main Street when it veered off the roadway and struck a utility pole near the intersection with Orchard Hill Road, authorities said.

Police noted that the impact caused disabling damage to the vehicle, prompting a tow. While Wood initially reported no injuries, she was evaluated at the scene by EMS personnel and transported to the hospital due to possible head trauma and airbag deployment.

The crash caused no reported power outages, and no other vehicles were involved. Wood was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Newtown Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Domestic Incident

A Newtown man is facing several charges following a reported domestic incident at his residence on Edgelake Drive late on the evening of July 6, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Officers responded to the home around 11 p.m., where they encountered Frank Marini, 46. Following an investigation, police issued Marini a summons on charges of second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and interfering with an emergency call.

No bond was issued. Marini was scheduled to appear in court on July 7.

Tesla Crashes into Homes, Uproots Tree on Watkins Drive

A Tesla driven by Bernard Boris Cohen of Sandy Hook left Watkins Drive in Newtown late on the night of July 2, striking a curb, uprooting a tree, and crashing into the garages of two neighboring homes before coming to a stop, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when the vehicle, a 2024 Tesla Model Y, left the roadway near the intersection of Watkins Drive and Oakview Drive. Police said the Tesla first collided with a curb and tree at 2 Watkins Drive, then continued through a garage door and wall shared by 2 and 4 Watkins Drive. The crash caused significant structural damage to the garage and interior walls.

Cohen was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown Ambulance for complaints of back pain. No other injuries were reported.

The homeowner at 2 Watkins Drive said she heard a noise around the time of the crash but did not realize the extent of the damage until notified by phone. The resident at 4 Watkins Drive was alerted to the damage by firefighters. A Chevrolet Traverse parked inside the garage sustained damage to the passenger side.

Firefighters from Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue removed the garage door to reach Cohen. His Tesla was towed from the scene.

Police did not issue any citations, noting the crash occurred on private property.

Minor Collision Causes Vehicle Damage but No Injuries on Queen Street

A minor two-vehicle collision occurred on July 1 in a parking lot at 6 Queen Street in Newtown, according to police.

The incident took place around 2:39 p.m., when a 2017 GMC Sierra, operated by Michael Richard Kiley of Sandy Hook, was backing out of a parking space. At the same time, a 2015 Nissan Frontier driven by Michael Robert Fox of Newtown was traveling eastbound through the lot.

Police said the front right corner of the Nissan struck the rear left side of the GMC, resulting in minor damage to both vehicles. Neither vehicle required towing, and no injuries were reported. Both drivers were properly restrained, and no airbags deployed.

No citations were issued in connection with the incident.

Church Hill Road Crash Pushes Fencing Into Parked Work Van

According to the Newtown Police Department, the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when a 2006 Subaru Legacy, operated by 84-year-old Maria Brocco of Sandy Hook, entered the driveway of 57 Church Hill Road and struck a temporary fence panel at a construction site.

The vehicle continued forward, pushing multiple panels roughly 50 feet before they collided with a white van owned by Rizzo Electrical Contractors. The fencing caused damage to the right front corner and right side of the van.

The panels, which belonged to United Rentals North America, sustained damage during the collision. The Subaru also sustained damage to its front and right side and was towed from the scene.

Police noted Brocco was unable to explain the cause of the crash. A family member told officers that she suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which causes tremors. Brocco was evaluated by Newtown Ambulance at the scene but declined further medical treatment.

Her driver’s license was taken by officers pending a medical evaluation. No citations were issued at the scene.

Newtown Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Domestic Incident

A Newtown man is facing several charges, including assault and threatening, following a domestic incident reported on the evening of July 2, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said officers responded to a residence on John Beach Road around 11:07 p.m., where they encountered Brendan Richter, 25, of Newtown. Following an investigation, Richter was cited for first-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and two counts each of third-degree assault involving an elderly victim and second-degree threatening.

Richter was processed at the scene and later released after posting a $15,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in court on July 3.

Newtown Police Issue Warning Following Two-Car Crash on Main Street

A two-vehicle crash near the intersection of South Main Street and West Street on July 1 resulted in functional damage to both cars but no injuries, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:46 a.m., when a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, driven by Carolyn Signorelli of Sandy Hook, was backing up on the southbound shoulder of Main Street past the driveway at 25 Main St. At the same time, a 2022 Toyota Prius, operated by Anne Dalton, also of Sandy Hook, was turning left into that driveway.

Police said the Subaru’s left rear corner struck the front left corner of the Toyota during the maneuver, causing damage to both vehicles. Neither vehicle required towing, and both drivers were wearing seat belts. Airbags did not deploy, and no injuries were reported at the scene.

Signorelli received a written warning for unsafe backing.

Minor Two-Car Collision Reported at Schoolhouse Hill and Evergreen Roads

A minor two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Schoolhouse Hill Road and Evergreen Road in Newtown late in the morning on June 26, according to police.

Investigators said a 2019 Nissan Rogue, driven by Robin Dexter of Sandy Hook, was traveling northbound on Evergreen Road when it entered the intersection and struck a westbound 2017 Infiniti QX60 operated by Clifford Gilbert of Sandy Hook.

Neither driver was injured in the crash, and both vehicles sustained damage but did not require towing. According to police, the Nissan struck the Infiniti on its front-left side, while the Infiniti sustained damage to the rear driver-side area.

Officers issued a verbal warning to Dexter for failure to grant the right of way at a stop sign.

Two Vehicles Collide While Backing in Private Driveway on Botsford Hill Road

Two vehicles sustained minor damage in a low-speed collision while backing out of a private driveway on Botsford Hill Road on the morning of June 27, according to Newtown police.

Officers responded to the scene at approximately 11:11 a.m. and determined that both vehicles were backing up in the driveway at 17 Botsford Hill Road when the incident occurred.

The first vehicle, a 2024 Hyundai Sonata operated by Ruchika Tyagi of Fairfield, was reversing from a parking area next to the driveway. According to Tyagi, the second vehicle, a 2023 Ford, began backing up and struck the rear of her car.

The Ford’s driver, Mehmet Gozcu of Derby, told police he did not see that the Hyundai had backed into the driveway behind him. He said the Hyundai’s rear bumper contacted the rear of his vehicle.

No injuries were reported by either driver, and both vehicles were able to leave the scene without being towed. The incident took place on private property, and no enforcement action was taken.

Newtown Police Investigate Rear-End Crash on South Main Street

A two-vehicle crash on South Main Street near Greenbriar Lane resulted in no reported injuries but prompted the towing of one vehicle and a verbal traffic warning, according to Newtown police.

The incident occurred at 11:04 a.m. on June 28, when a 2005 Honda Pilot driven by Jeffrey Nystrom of Newtown struck the rear of a 2015 Audi S3 operated by Chantel Comerford of Sandy Hook. Both vehicles were traveling north on South Main Street when Comerford’s vehicle stopped to turn left into the driveway at 94 South Main Street. Police said Nystrom’s vehicle failed to stop in time, causing a rear-end collision.

Nystrom’s Honda sustained significant damage and was towed from the scene. Comerford’s Audi received damage to the rear but remained operable.

Multiple passengers were in both vehicles, including children secured in child restraint systems. No injuries were reported by any of the occupants, and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance personnel evaluated all individuals at the scene.

Nystrom was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain a reasonable distance.

Two Vehicles Involved in Parking Lot Collision in Newtown, No Injuries Reported

A minor collision between two vehicles occurred in a Church Hill Road parking lot on June 26, resulting in minor damage but no injuries, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said both vehicles were backing out of parking spaces at 191 South Main Street when the rear end of a 2016 Subaru Outback, operated by Gary Stuart Gray of Sandy Hook, made contact with the rear end of a 2011 Honda Pilot. The Honda was registered to Ana Sanabria Rodriguez of Newtown.

The impact resulted in minor damage to the Honda and no visible damage to the Subaru. No one involved in the crash—drivers or passengers—reported any injuries, and airbags were not deployed in either vehicle. Both vehicles remained operable and were not towed.

Because the incident occurred on private property, no enforcement action was taken, police said.

Newtown Driver Cited After Hitting Wrong Pedal in Dinglebrook Lane Collision

A driver received a verbal warning following a two-vehicle collision on Dinglebrook Lane near the intersection with Hanover and Lake roads, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The crash occurred on July 1 at approximately 5:37 p.m. Police said the driver of a 2013 Ram C/V Tradesman sideswiped a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban after mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake while attempting to slow down.

The driver of the Ram, identified as John Crane of Newtown, was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain a reasonable distance. No injuries were reported by either party, and both vehicles sustained minor damage that did not require towing.

Crane refused medical attention at the scene. The driver of the Suburban, identified as Joann Soltis, also of Newtown, reported no injuries. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and no airbags deployed.