Police Blotter: Alleged Fight at THS, Bad Check and Multiple Accidents

1/2 Foggy Conditions Lead to Single Tractor-Trailer Accident

Paschal Jewell, 71, of Sycamore, AL, was traveling in a tractor-trailer east on Interstate 84, near exit 67. Under foggy conditions, Jewell was negotiating a right curve at 5:11 a.m., when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree in the center median. His vehicle came to an uncontrolled final rest in the grass median. Jewell stated that he was uninjured and refused medical treatment at the scene. His tractor-trailer was totaled. T&M Automotive removed and towed it.

1/6 Failing to Brake Leads to Rear End Damage, Man Hits Parked Car

Emily Mayo, 35, of Coventry, was traveling west on Route 74, near Burbank Road at 3:26 p.m. Mayo was attempting to take a left turn into a business parking lot, when Christian Devaux, 18, of 71 Old Post Rd., who was traveling behind Mayo, did not brake in time, resulting in Devaux's car rear-ending Mayo’s vehicle. No injuries were reported at the scene. Mayo’s vehicle sustained rear bumper damage and a broken rear window. Devaux sustained heavy front-end damage to front bumper.

Jay Chase, 49, of Stafford Springs, was traveling south on Route 30, when he swiped a parked motor vehicle along the right shoulder of the road. The vehicle, owned by Roland Hujber of West Suffield was in the shoulder area of the road with the driver-side tires over the white breakdown line and in the travel portion of the road. No injuries were reported. Chase’s vehicle sustained damage to the entire right side. Tolland Citgo towed the vehicle. Hujber’s vehicle sustained damage to the rear quarter panel of the left side. His vehicle was towed by Townline Autobody. 

1/7 Alleged Fight At Tolland High School Confirmed on Facebook

State Police at Troop C received a phone call from the East Hartford Police Department regarding a possible fight at Tolland High School. The suspects were identified. The high school was notified of the incident, which remains under investigation.

 1/8 Two-Car Accident Due to Lane Merge, Bad Weather Causes Multiple Car Accidents

John Laster, 30, of Douglas, GA,  was traveling east on Interstate 84 in the right lane at 12:50 a.m. Elvis Da Cruz, of Shoreline, WA, 28, driving a vehicle owned by Electrical Maintenance and Construction INC, was traveling east in the left lane and attempted to merge into the right lane. Da Cruz lost control of his vehicle, striking Laster’s trailer truck. No injuries were reported. Da Cruz’s vehicle sustained minor right front damage as a result of the collision.

At 8:26 a.m., Srikanth Pothiraaj, 26, of Worcester, MA, was traveling east on Interstate 84, using the cleared middle lane. Upon approaching the exit 69 off ramp, Pothiraaj crossed over into the far left high-speed travel lane, which was not well cleared of snow. As the vehicle’s side tires made contact with the snow, Pothiraaj lost control of the vehicle and slid into the center meridian, striking the jersey barrier with the front left of the vehicle. No injuries were reported. Pothiraaj was cited for traveling too fast for conditions. The vehicle sustained damage to the tire and the front left bumper. Tolland Citgo AAA towed the vehicle.

At 8:40 p.m., Anita Geiszler, of Wilton Manors, FL, 31, was traveling east on Interstate 84, near exit 68. Geiszler was in the center lane when her vehicle skidded off the road and struck metal beam guiderail off the right shoulder. No injuries were reported. The vehicle sustained damage to entire left side. Geiszler was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions. The vehicle was towed to Tolland Citgo.

1/12 Tow Truck Hits DOT Vehicle, Car Overturns and Driver Charged With Driving With Suspended License

At 11:33 a.m., Paul Parrow, 28, of Stafford Springs, driving a Connecticut Department of Transportation Vehicle, was traveling west on Interstate 84, near exit 67 off ramp. The plow truck was clearning snow in the center of the three-lane highway with its caution light illuminated. John Kyle, of Lititz, PA, driving a Larry G. Eckert Towing Truck Unit, was also traveling in the center lane when he changed to the left lane, attempting to pass the DOT vehicle. The tow truck struck the DOT truck’s left front plow blade with its front end, causing the DOT vehicle to skid off the right shoulder of the interstate. The DOT vehicle colliding with the wire rope guard rail. No injuries were reported. Tolland Heavy Duty Towing removed the DOT truck from the scene. Kyle was issues an infraction for improper passing.

At 10:35 p.m., Katelynn Collins, 23, of Vernon, was traveling east on Interstate 84, near exit 68, when her vehicle began to skid and struck a snow embankment, overturning on the right shoulder lane. Tolland Volunteer Ambulance transported Collins to Rockville General Hospital for minor injuries. Bills Automotive towed the vehicle from the scene due to damage to the entire left side. Collins was later arrested after she was discovered to be driving with a suspended CT driver’s license. She also was charged with traveling unreasonably fast for conditions, failure to wear a safety belt in the front seat, failure to return license after suspended/canceled insurance, failure to carry certificate of registration/insurance, operation of motor vehicle when registration or license is suspended. Her bond was set for $500. She was set to appear at Rockville Superior Court on Jan.13.

1/13 Two-Car Accident, Bad Check Catches Up With Suspect, Ignoring Stop Sign Leads to Accident

Courtney Jensen, 31, of Silverton, OR, was driving north on Merrow Road, near Anthony Road at 9:27 a.m. Edward Ridzon, of 335 Merrow Rd. was exiting out of his driveway when Jensen’s vehicle struck the snowplow attached to the front end of Ridzon’s vehicle. There was a thin layer of snow/slush covering the roadway due to a recent storm. Both parties declined medical treatment and both vehicles could be driven from the scene of the accident. Ridzon was issued a written warning for failure to grant the right of way from a private driveway.

Rebecca Wegryn, 24, of Coventry, was taken into custody at 4 p.m. from state police Troop D in Danielson on an active hard copy warrant. On Aug. 8, 2010, Wegryn issued a bad check to Wireless Zone in Tolland. On Jan. 13, the accused was transported to Troop C where she was processed without incident and issued a court date of Jan. 26 at Rockville Superior Court at 9:30 a.m. The accused was given a $148.39 cash bond.

Teresa Gorman, 19, of 60 Timber Trail, was traveling north on Timber Trail at 10:20 p.m., when she drove through the stop sign at the intersection of Branden Way. Gorman hit Robert Grospitch, 19, of 51 Lamont Lane, who was traveling through the intersection on Branden Way heading west. Gorman’s vehicle hit a snow bank as a result of the collision. No injuries were reported. Acari Auto pulled Gorman’s vehicle out of the snow bank. Gorman was issued an infraction for failure to obey the stop sign.