Police Blotter: School Bus Accident, Break-In

A car struck a Tolland Public School’s bus on Buff Cap Road on March 9. No one was injured in the accident - there were four passengers on the bus - but both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

According to police, the bus, driven by Kimberly Johnson of Stafford Springs, was traveling along Buff Cap Road near North River Road when Lifan Shen, 19, pulled a 2007 Audi A4 out of a driveway at 140 Buff Cap Rd. and collided with the left rear side of the school bus.

The Audi sustained front-end damage, while the school bus was damaged on the left rear quarter section.

Shen was charged with failure to grant the right of way to oncoming traffic and driving without a license.

March 4: Accident on Merrow Road, DUI

Myra Shanchez, 38, of East Hartford, had stopped her 200 Ford Focus on Route 195 to take a left onto a side street when she was struck from behind by a 2001 Toyota Camry driven by Brian Lametta, 22, of Norwalk. No one was injured and Shanchez was able to drive away. Lametta’s car had to be towed to Bills Auto. Lametta was cited for traveling too fast for conditions.

A Tolland man drove his vehicle through a red light - and through the intersection of Range Hill Drive and Regan Road - in Vernon. Timothy A. Shane, 25, of 497 Old Post Road, admitted to drinking alcohol prior to running the red light after being stopped by Vernon police. Shane was asked to perform a series of sobriety tests at the scene, which he failed. The incident took place at 9:45 p.m., police said. His bond is set at $500 and a court date is scheduled for March 14.

March 5: Break-in

A woman reported that someone had broken into her property on Babcock Road. The house was vacant because of a pending sale. State police are investigating.

March 9: Driving while intoxicated

Lou J. Hotte, 57, of 151 Kate Lane was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive right after being stopped by state police on Rhodes Road.