One Speeding Driver Causes Multiple Accidents in Middlebury, Police Say

It all started at the four-way intersection of Route 64 in Middlebury around 1:15 p.m. Sunday, May 18. A black Mercedes Benz driven by John Andrews, 21, of Wolcott, was seen speeding and passing cars illegally while traveling northbound on Route 63, Middlebury police said.

He was ultimately transported to St. Mary’s Hospital after allegedly causing multiple accidents and slamming into the sign of a Straits Turnpike business before stopping.

The first accident took place in the Joanne Drive area, where the car sideswiped a 2013 Chrysler traveling southbound, Acting Chief RIchard Wildman said. The Chrysler was driven by Judy Bergeron of Naugatuck. She was not injured.

Wildman said this was a no passing zone. Andrews left the scene and continued northbound, striking the rear of a 2013 VW Jetta driven by Daniel Mara of Waterbury. Mara was driving in the northbound lane of Route 63 when Andrews reportedly struck his car, according to police. Mara was not injured.

Andrews was still traveling northbound when he lost control of the car. He crossed over into the other lane and struck a 2003 Toyota Camry driven by Kenneth DeSantis of Naugatuck, almost head on, Wildman said. DeSantis was injured and transported to Waterbury Hospital.  

“The Mercedes Benz totally out of control, skidded northbound and landed hundreds of feet down the road from the collision site with the Camry,” Wildman said.

The Mercedes Benz struck a sign on the front lawn of 2030 Straits Turnpike and sent the sign parts into another southbound vehicle — a 1998 Chevrolet TrailBlazer —driven by Catherine Shambo of Waterbury. She was not injured.

Middlebury Police know of at least one motorcycle operator who took several evasive moves to prevent him and his rider from being struck by the Mercedes Benz.

The Middlebury Fire Department responded and assisted at the scene. Watertown Police also lent a hand with traffic, Wildman said. Evidence was recovered from the scene,  photographs were taken and the area was marked, for future follow-up.