Newtown Police Seek Truck Driver Who Fled Scene Of Accident

NEWTOWN, CT — Two motor vehicle incidents where drivers fled the scene were at the top of the Newtown Police Department's blotter last week.

Driver Sought After Backing Into Car at Berkshire and Toddy Hill Roads

Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred on May 5 at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Toddy Hill Road, where a truck backed into a car and left the scene.

According to Newtown police, a commercial truck operated by an unknown driver had stopped beyond the white stop-bar at a red light. In an attempt to reposition and avoid blocking the intersection, the truck began backing up and struck the front of a 2010 Hyundai Elantra that had stopped behind it.

The Hyundai, driven by Alexandra Molina Miguel of Danbury, sustained functional front-end damage but remained operable. No injuries were reported.

The truck, identified as a 2019 Freightliner registered to Ryder Truck Rental, left the area following the collision. Police said the incident remains under criminal investigation.

Driver Cited After Backing Into Mailbox on Pine Street and Leaving Scene

A New Milford woman was cited after backing into a mailbox on Pine Street and leaving the scene without reporting the damage, according to Newtown police.

The incident occurred on May 5 around 8:30 p.m. A resident on Pine Street told police he heard a loud sound outside his home and saw a vehicle striking his mailbox while turning around. The driver left without notifying anyone. The mailbox and post were damaged and dislodged from the ground.

The resident recorded the vehicle's registration plate, which police traced to a 2013 Acura MDX registered to Carmen Farez of New Milford. Officers from the New Milford Police Department attempted to make contact at her address but initially found no one home.

On May 8, Farez denied involvement in a phone call with police, but later the same evening contacted Newtown Police and acknowledged that she had been driving the vehicle. She said she became lost after leaving work, turned onto a side street to turn around, and accidentally backed into the mailbox.
Farez visited the Newtown Police Department on May 9 and was issued an infraction for unsafe backing.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Newtown Man Faces Charge for Failure to Respond to Infraction

A Newtown man was taken into custody on May 8 in connection with an outstanding warrant stemming from a prior infraction.

Police said officers responded to a reported dispute at 116 Church Hill Road around 1:29 a.m. During the investigation, they discovered that Christopher Yost, 32, had an active PRAWN warrant issued by Troop A. He was transported to the Newtown Police Department for processing.

Yost was charged with failure to respond to an infraction under state statute 51-164r(a). He is scheduled to appear at Danbury Superior Court on May 21.

No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

No Injuries Reported in Two-Vehicle Crash on Sugar Street in Newtown

A minor collision involving a private vehicle and a U.S. Postal Service truck occurred on Sugar Street near Juniper Road on May 8, according to Newtown police.

Police said a 2023 Acura MDX was traveling east behind a 1990 Grumman postal vehicle when the mail truck stopped at a mailbox. As the Acura passed, the postal vehicle began to pull away. The Acura then turned right onto Juniper Road in front of the mail truck, resulting in a collision.

The front left side of the postal vehicle struck the right rear quarter and tire of the Acura. Both vehicles sustained damage, but no injuries were reported. The drivers, identified as Jane Maher of Newtown and David Konecny of Southbury, were issued verbal warnings.

No towing was required, and both vehicles remained operable after the incident.

Truck Slides Into Marshy Area During Turnaround on Hunting Ridge Road

A truck became stuck and slid into a marshy area while attempting to turn around in a driveway on Hunting Ridge Road on May 8, according to Newtown police.

The incident involved a Dodge Ram operated by Bar Bitton of New Haven. Police said the vehicle became lodged in mud during the turnaround. While trying to dislodge the truck, it slid further into a small pond adjacent to the driveway.

Minor damage was reported to the vehicle and to the yard at the property, owned by Tahirih Andrews of Newtown. The truck was later towed away. No injuries were reported, and police said no enforcement action was taken because the incident occurred on private property.

Driver Cited After Two-Vehicle Crash at Queen Street and Wasserman Way

A two-vehicle collision occurred on May 7 at the intersection of Queen Street and Wasserman Way after one driver entered the intersection when it was unsafe to do so, Newtown police said.

According to the report, a 2006 Lexus RX 400 Hybrid driven by Laura Hill King of Newtown was traveling southbound on Queen Street when it entered the westbound lane of Wasserman Way and collided with a 2023 Nissan Rogue. The Nissan, driven by Kenneth Arszyla of Huntington, attempted to swerve left to avoid contact but was struck on the right side. The vehicle came to rest in the eastbound travel lane.

No injuries were reported, and both vehicles remained operable. King was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Rear-End Collision Reported at Wasserman Way and Berkshire Road

A two-vehicle crash occurred on May 7 at the intersection of Wasserman Way and Berkshire Road when a pickup truck struck a stopped vehicle from behind, Newtown police said.

According to the report, a 2013 Mazda CX-9 was traveling eastbound on Wasserman Way and had come to a stop in the right-turn-only lane due to southbound traffic on Berkshire Road. A 2017 Ford F-150, driven by Wilson Salazar Leon of New Haven, was traveling behind the Mazda and failed to stop in time, resulting in a rear-end collision.

The Mazda, operated by Sarah Devellis-Adams of Sandy Hook, sustained minor rear bumper damage. The Ford incurred minor front bumper damage. Two child passengers in the Mazda were uninjured.

No injuries were reported, and both vehicles were driven from the scene. Salazar Leon was issued an infraction for following too closely.

Minor Collision Reported on Dogwood Terrace in Newtown

A vehicle reversing out of a driveway struck a parked car on Dogwood Terrace on May 10, causing minor damage to both vehicles, according to Newtown police.

The incident occurred around 8:32 p.m. when a 2015 Ram 1500, operated by Ian Thoesen of Newtown, backed out of a driveway at 5 Dogwood Terrace and collided with a parked 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300.

The Ram sustained damage to the rear bumper, while the Mercedes had damage to the rear driver-side quarter panel. No injuries were reported, and neither vehicle required towing.

Thoesen was issued an infraction for unsafe backing.

Two Vehicles Involved in Morning Collision on Wasserman Way

A two-vehicle crash occurred on May 1 near the Exit 11 commuter lot on Wasserman Way, resulting in significant damage to one vehicle but no reported injuries, according to Newtown police.

The incident took place around 7:42 a.m. when a 2024 GMC Savana, operated by Eric Eissman of Newtown on behalf of U-Haul of Arizona, attempted to turn left from the commuter lot across eastbound traffic to enter the westbound lane of Wasserman Way. As the van crossed, it collided with a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse traveling eastbound, operated by Erika Moran of Newtown.

Police said the front passenger side of the GMC struck the front passenger side of the Chevrolet. The van sustained minor damage, while the Traverse required towing due to disabling front-end damage.

Both drivers received verbal warnings — Eissman for failure to grant the right of way at a stop sign and Moran for failure to maintain a lane. No injuries were reported among the drivers or passengers.

Driver's Foot Slips, Causing Parking Lot Collision in Newtown

A driver’s foot slipped from the pedal while exiting a parking space, resulting in a collision between two vehicles in a commercial lot at 6 Queen Street on May 6, according to Newtown police.

Police said a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe, operated by Stephanie Mary Mingo of Newtown, was parked in a marked stall and backed into the space. As Mingo attempted to pull out and turn right, her foot reportedly slipped, causing the Tahoe to strike a 2021 Hyundai Elantra parked in the adjacent stall.

The Hyundai, which was unoccupied at the time, sustained significant damage including a detached front bumper. The Tahoe also had damage on its passenger side. No injuries were reported.

Because the crash occurred on private property, no enforcement action was taken.

Driver Cited After Rear-End Collision on Church Hill Road in Newtown

A minor two-vehicle crash occurred on May 6 on Church Hill Road near Commerce Road when a vehicle failed to maintain sufficient distance and struck a slowing truck, according to Newtown police.

Authorities said a 2015 Infiniti Q50, driven by Andrew Bradley of Newtown, was traveling eastbound behind a 2024 Ford F-250 operated by Barry Gaffney of Oxford. As the Ford slowed for a red light, the Infiniti struck its rear bumper.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage and remained operable following the incident. No injuries were reported.

Bradley was issued a written warning for following too closely.

Minor Two-Vehicle Collision Reported Near Newtown High School

A minor rear-end crash occurred on May 7 in the exit lane of Newtown High School when a vehicle failed to slow down in time for traffic ahead, police said.

According to the report, a 2012 Mazda CX-9 driven by Lily Wen Fagan of Newtown struck the rear of a 2019 Honda Pilot operated by Megan Ann Guarino of Seymour. The Honda had slowed for traffic when the Mazda failed to reduce speed and collided with it.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were able to be driven from the scene. No injuries were reported.

Minor Collision in Blue Colony Diner Lot Leads to Verbal Warning

A minor collision occurred in the parking lot of the Blue Colony Diner on May 8 when a vehicle backing out of a space struck a parked car, according to Newtown police.

The incident took place around 11:02 p.m. when a 2009 Jeep Wrangler, operated by Luke Phelps of Newtown, backed out of a parking spot and its rear-mounted spare tire made contact with the rear passenger fender of a parked 2022 Jeep Wrangler. The second vehicle was unoccupied at the time and sustained cosmetic damage, including scuff marks.

Phelps left the scene before officers arrived but was later identified and contacted. He admitted to causing the collision and cooperated with police.

No injuries were reported, and neither vehicle required towing. Phelps received a verbal warning for unsafe backing and was reminded not to leave the scene of a crash, regardless of the severity.

Two Vehicles Towed After Collision on Poverty Hollow Road

A two-vehicle crash on May 9 resulted in both cars being towed after one driver failed to yield at a stop sign, according to Newtown police.

The incident occurred around 6:10 p.m. at the intersection of Poverty Hollow Road and Equestrian Ridge. Police said a 2020 Kia Sorento, driven by Nanci Lucia Valladares-Cardenas of New Milford, was turning left onto Poverty Hollow Road when it entered the path of a 2021 Subaru Forester traveling southbound, resulting in a collision.

Both vehicles sustained front-end damage and were towed from the scene. No injuries were reported among the five occupants involved, including two minors.

Valladares-Cardenas was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Three-Vehicle Crash Reported on Dodgingtown Road

A chain-reaction collision involving three vehicles occurred on May 8 on Dodgingtown Road near Karen Boulevard, according to Newtown police.

Police said a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Martin Alexander Lawlor of Weston struck the rear of a 2011 Honda Fit that had slowed for traffic, causing the Honda to collide with a 2013 Nissan Altima in front of it. The crash occurred around 5:21 p.m. near 67 Dodgingtown Road.

No injuries were reported by the drivers of any of the vehicles. The Honda sustained significant front and rear damage and was towed from the scene. The Hyundai and Nissan both sustained minor damage and were driven away.

Lawlor was issued an infraction for failure to maintain a reasonable distance.