Arrest in last year’s fatal Christmas crash

Connecticut State Police Troop B headquarters in North Canaan.
Archive photo
Connecticut State Police Troop B headquarters in North Canaan.
NORTH CANAAN — A nearly year-long investigation into a fatal 2023 Christmas Day crash last year has resulted in the arrest of a North Canaan man on manslaughter charges.
Samuel Simmons, 21, of Ashley Falls Road, was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 12, at his home by Troopers from Troop B, charged with three felonies and held on a $250,000 cash surety bond.
The investigation concluded that Simmons, the driver of a 1995 Volvo 850T5R, “was operating while impaired by the effects of marijuana,” according to the police report.
A passenger in the Volvo, Avery Nelson, 24, of Norfolk, was pronounced dead on the scene as a result of injuries sustained when the Volvo struck a four-foot, two-inch tree, a fence and a railing in front of a residence on Twin Lakes Road just west of the intersection of Canaan Road (Route 44) in the Town of Salisbury on Christmas Day afternoon.
Simmons was transported to Sharon Hospital for injuries.
According to a statement provided by one witness, the Volvo was traveling eastbound on Route 44 at a high rate of speed behind her car when it passed her despite a double-yellow line.
The witness said the Volvo then entered the oncoming lane for about 30 seconds then swerved off the roadway.
A second witness, who was visiting a gravesite at Route 44 and Twin Lakes Road, heard a noise and observed the Volvo hit the tree at a high rate of speed.
A third witness, who was westbound near the accident scene observed the Volvo to be out of control.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Simmons’ medical records at Sharon Hospital. The records listed the presence of the principal psychoactive ingredient of marijuana.
A report from the medical examiner listed Nelson’s cause of death as injuries sustained in the crash. The manner of death was listed as “accident.”
A collision report issued by the Collison Analysis and Reconstruction Squad concluded that Simmons, while traveling at a speed between 74 and 79 mph, attempted a left-steering maneuver that exceeded “the handling ability of the Volvo.”
Simmons is scheduled to appear in Torrington Superior Court on Jan. 21 on charges of manslaughter, 2nd degree; manslaughter with a motor vehicle, 2nd degree; illegal posssession of a weapon in a motor vehicle; reckless driving and failure to drive upon the right.
Sharon’s Mudge Pond spans more than 200 acres.
SHARON — A new report prepared by the Northwest Conservation District found it’s not only recent agricultural runoff that impacts the water quality of Mudge Pond, but pollution from bygone farms of decades ago.
The reason for this is a process called “internal loading,” stated the report, which was prepared by NWCD Natural Resource Specialist Kelsey Sudol and presented to the Board of Selectmen at its August 26 meeting by selectwoman Lynn Kearcher. Drawing from the findings of a February 2025 study (researched in 2024) by environmental consultancy Northeast Aquatic Research, Sudol’s memo declares that “internal loading is the main major water quality concern for Mudge Pond currently.”
Internal loading is the release of harmful particulates that were once entombed in the lake bottom back into the water column. It results from a layer of anoxic or hypoxic — water either entirely or almost entirely devoid of dissolved oxygen – sitting on the lake bottom for longer than usual.
It’s normal for this to happen for a period in New England’s freshwater lakes during the summer when they’re “stratified” (i.e. when warmer, less dense water sits above cooler, denser water). In this state, the layers don’t mix and the deeper water is unable to receive additional oxygen from the well-oxygenated layers above.
Warmer winters, however, can cause this process to begin earlier, especially with a shortened ice season. These extended anoxic periods, which were confirmed by several readings taken during the Northeast Aquatic Research study, allow harmful pollutants that may have been sitting on the lake bottom for decades to reappear and cause damage. Nitrogen and especially phosphorus are two such products of historic agricultural runoff that pose a risk to Mudge Pond.
The NWCD report upholds that “within watersheds that have a long history of agriculture, which Mudge Pond does, this release of historic pollution is common.” There is an urgency to remedying this issue, the report went on, given that “the stressors that are worsening this internal loading, like warmer winters, are not projected to improve.”
The report recommends aeration, a technology which artificially inputs oxygen into deeper water, as the most promising remediation tactic. The suggestion follows the Northeast Aquatic Research study which declared that “the lake is an excellent candidate for artificial aeration.” Northeast Aquatic Research would not suggest a specific method by which to implement the solution, however, until it had completed further research, stating the group would be able to present “state-of-the-art” options to the town by the spring of 2026.
Neither the town nor the Mudge Pond Association — the lake’s newly-formed recreation and protection authority — have stated whether an aeration solution will be pursued, although the Association has indicated a commitment to weigh all possible protective measures.
While the reappearance of old pollutants presents the greatest water quality risk, current runoff also poses a threat. The Northeast Aquatic Research report located a high concentration of nitrogen at certain times of the year near an inlet that enters the lake on its eastern shore, downslope from Low Road. The feeder streams flow through a wetland before reaching the lake at the inlet, which is a cause for concern as wetlands usually act as “biofilters” that remove nutrients from the water, stated Northeast Aquatic Research.
The NWCD offered to conduct a stream-walk to locate the sources of these nutrients that would help develop a “watershed monitoring program.” The group would also help the town educate property owners and farmers within the watershed on erosion control and nutrient runoff management. Such practices have worked before, the NWCD correspondence stated: according to historic reports from 1999, 2000 and 2001, once newly-established best management practices were adopted in area farms in the 1980s and 1990s, Mudge Pond’s water quality drastically improved.
The NWCD also offered to conduct a volunteer event to remove invasive water chestnut, sending out flotillas of kayakers to hand-pull the water weed in a minimally invasive procedure. Earlier in the summer, an effort by the Mudge Pond Association and local consultancy New England Aquatic Services to hand-pull the plant was stymied by a much-greater amount of organic material than anticipated. A bigger team could help, the NWCD recommended in the memo.
The Mudge Pond Association said it is carefully weighing NWCD’s many suggestions, and is working on next steps.
KENT — Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. via Zoom for an application submitted by Kent Affordable Housing. The plan calls for 13 units in a 2.5-story elevatored building adjacent to South Common affordable housing complex. The 1.15-acre parcel is currently town-owned, but will be turned over to KAH once all the applications are approved.
Justin Potter, head of KAH, said the parcel was chosen because of the built-in infrastructure from South Common, including sewer and water hookup.
Entry to the new apartments would be through South Common, but construction would go through the Transfer Station to ensure the least amount of disruption to tenants.
SHARON — The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recent decision to approve an application for a controversial housing development faces an appeal from outraged neighbors.
The appellants are Pablo Cisilino and Silvina Leone, who have been outspoken against the proposed development on Hospital Hill Road since the public hearing began in March of this year. Cisilino and Leone entered the appeal Aug. 29 alleging they are “classically aggrieved” by P&Z’s decision in that the enjoyment and valuation of their properties will be negatively impacted by “noise, traffic and diminished viewshed.” The filing was handled by attorneys Kenneth Slater Jr. and Richard Roberts of Halloran Sage LLP on behalf of Cisilino and Leone.
Leone is listed as the owner of 71 Hospital Hill Road, a directly abutting property of the proposed development, and both appellants as the owners of another property on Amenia Road.
The appeal argues that the Commission’s approval “was illegal under the general standards for special exceptions contained in the zoning regulations in that it ignored uncontroverted professional testimony that the project would have a severe negative impact on the value of neighboring properties as well as lay testimony to the same effect from affected neighbors.”
It alleges the Commission was unlawful in that its Aug. 13 decision “was not supported by the record” and that the application does not comply with Sharon’s zoning regulations.
Cornwall Volunteer Fire Dept. is raising money to upgrade two trucks. A rescue pumper, seen at left, will replace the 1999 Navistar, at right.
CORNWALL — After nearly three decades of responding to emergencies, two of Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department’s trucks are in need of replacement.
With an expected total cost of up to $1.6 million, CVFD launched a fundraising effort to meet the need.
The goal is to raise $600,000 by December 2025, which will be added to the roughly $1 million of town funding and department reserves that will go toward the new trucks.
The old trucks, which have been in service for a combined 50 years, remain actively involved in emergency response efforts. The 1999 Navistar “Engine 3-0” operates out of the Cornwall Bridge firehouse and is used for fire attack, water supply and motor vehicle accidents with an AED on board. The 2001 International “Rescue 1” does not have a water pump, but carries life-saving tools and gear for responding to motor vehicle accidents, water/ice rescues and other incidents.
A press release from CVFD’s Fire Trucks Fundraising Campaign Honorary Committee stated, “They are technologically out of date – firefighting science and accident scene response needs have changed over the last 25+ years. New trucks will allow us to better respond to incidents and will be safer for our volunteer firefighters and support team.”
The two desired trucks are a rescue pumper, similar to “Engine 6” currently used in Falls Village, and a mini-pumper, similar to “Squad 3” used in Sharon.
A mini-pumper, seen at left, will replace the 2001 International truck, at right.Provided
Committee member Ian Ridgway explained that the rescue pumper “will give us the ability to seat six firefighters. This style truck also will give us much more compartment space than our current engines.” Of the mini-pumper, he stated, “These smaller trucks still have a large pump on them and can move lots of water, but they are more maneuverable and easier to maintain.”
The committee noted, “Both are state-of-the art apparatus that will meet our needs for the next 25 years.”
CVFD anticipates about two years between the order date and the arrival date for the new trucks.
Tax-deductible donations can be made online at cornwallfire.org or by check, mailed to P.O. Box 180, West Cornwall, Conn., 06796. For more info, email president@cornwallfire.org
CVFD President Dick Sears noted, “The high point of this rapid campaign will be our Open House,” which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 19 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the West Cornwall firehouse.
The Department will also have a booth at the Cornwall Agricultural Fair at the Village Green Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.