MONROE, CT — A Newtown man was heading south on Monroe Turnpike (Route 111) Thursday morning when his 2015 Dodge Ram began to shake and smoke billowed from beneath the hood.
Police said the driver pulled his pickup truck over to the shoulder of the road, near Highland Drive, stepped outside, and by the time he reached the back of his truck it was engulfed in flames.
Officers closed the roadway for about 30 minutes to allow Stevenson and Monroe volunteer firefighters responding to the 10:32 a.m. call to extinguish the fire.
The driver was not injured and the Monroe Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause, according to a post on the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department No. Inc. Facebook page.
Three-vehicle-crash
A 91-year-old Newtown man accelerated while driving his 2014 Hyundai Accent south on Main Street (Route 25) Wednesday morning, before crashing into a 2014 Mazda 2, making it spin around. The Hyundai then crossed over the center line, sideswiping a 2024 Acura Integra, according to police.
The Newtown driver reportedly told officers he was unable to recall the events leading up to the crash and did not recall striking any other vehicles.
He was issued an infraction for following too close and failure to drive in the proper lane, and his driver’s license was seized, police said.
A 42-year-old Ansonia woman, who was driving the Mazda, told officers she was slowing for traffic ahead of her before being struck from behind by the Hyundai Accent. She temporarily lost consciousness and was taken to St. Vincent’s Medical Center, police said.
Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated the Newtown man and the driver of the Integra, a 35-year-old woman from the Bronx, N.Y., and both declined a ride to a hospital.
The Bronx woman told officers she was in front of the Mazda when she heard a loud noise, then saw the Hyundai sideswipe her car before continuing south.
Police said the Hyundai and the Mazda had to be towed due to disabling damage from the accident, which occurred in the 180-block of Main Street around 7:51 a.m.
Monroe is getting license plate readers
Beginning in late spring or early summer, the Monroe Police Department partnered with Flock Safety to install automatic license plate readers on arterial roadways to reduce crime.
Monroe will be joining neighboring towns that have had these systems installed for several years. The goal of this system is to enable towns to collaborate in reducing crime through timely receipt of information.
Most crimes are committed using a vehicle. These cameras will enhance proactive policing by providing real-time alerts for vehicles that are stolen, involved in retail theft, hit-and-run collisions, or associated with missing persons cases.
They will also assist in investigative work by helping to identify vehicles involved in crimes and their current locations. These crimes include violent crime, felony offenses, and vehicle burglaries, which have significantly increased in recent years.
The objective of the cameras is to deter crime. The cameras do not capture vehicle speed and will not be used for traffic enforcement.
No entry made
Police responded to the report of an attempted burglary at Awesome Toys & Gifts, 464 Main St., just before noon Monday.
Officers observed tool marks and a broken handle on the back door of the business, but determined no entry was gained. Police said the damage occurred sometime between 6 p.m. on April 19 and Monday morning.
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