Wilton Police Investigate DUI Crash, Thefts And Traffic Collision

WILTON, CT — A Stamford woman is facing charges after her vehicle struck a telephone pole in Wilton early Friday morning, according to police.

Shortly before 2 a.m. on March 21, officers observed a blue Hyundai Kona failing to maintain its lane on Chestnut Hill Road. The vehicle had crashed into a telephone pole near Cedar Road before police made contact. The driver, identified as 26-year-old Catherine Zayas, told officers she had consumed alcohol prior to driving and did not successfully complete standardized field sobriety tests.

Chemical testing later showed blood alcohol content levels of 0.1732 and 0.1667. In Connecticut, the legal blood alcohol content limit for driving is 0.08 percent for those 21 and older.

Zayas was charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain lane. She was released after posting 7 percent of her $300 bond and is scheduled to appear at Stamford Superior Court on April 4.

In a separate incident on March 20, police responded to a report of theft at the CVS Pharmacy in Wilton Center. Officers later located the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Timothy Nikolis of Norwalk, at the nearby Stop & Shop. Authorities say Nikolis took $5.58 worth of merchandise from CVS and later stole $72 in items from Stop & Shop.

Nikolis faces two counts of sixth-degree larceny and was held on a $2,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in court on March 21.

Also on March 20, Renata Almeida De Paiva, 29, of Danbury, was taken into custody during a traffic stop on Middlebrook Farm Road. Police said she had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court related to traffic violations issued in Wilton in 2022. She was released after posting a $5,000 bond and is due in court on April 3.

In another DUI-related case, Jherri Garcia, 24, of New Milford, was stopped by police around 10 p.m. on March 17 for speeding on Danbury Road. Garcia admitted to consuming alcohol and did not pass standardized field sobriety tests. Her chemical tests returned blood alcohol content levels of 0.0678 and 0.0623. Garcia was charged with DUI and speeding. She was released on a promise to appear in court on April 1.

Separately, two vehicles collided on Danbury Road at Wolfpit Road around 10:40 a.m. on March 22. Police said one driver, Alice Fay of Wilton, attempted to turn left onto Wolfpit Road and was struck by an oncoming truck. Fay was taken to Norwalk Hospital with minor injuries. The other driver, Marco Lopez of Norwalk, was treated on scene and declined further medical attention. Fay received an infraction for failing to yield while turning left.