Sign at Troop B state police headquarters in North Canaan.
Police Blotter: Troop B
Police Blotter: Troop B

Police Blotter: Troop B

The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.


Traveling too fast

On Friday, Feb. 14, at approximately 8:30 a.m. Dianne Wingard, 61, of Falls Village was traveling north on North Elm Street in North Canaanin a 2018 Audi SQ5 and applied brakes to stop at the Stop sign at Route 7. Her anti-lock brakes activated and the Audi slid, colliding with a 2012 Toyota Highlander driven by Peter Handlowich, 84, of Ashley Falls. Wingard was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Snowy road conditions

On Friday, Feb. 14, Whitney Thorpe-cole, 37, of Nortolk, was westbound on Route 44 in the area of Ashpohtaug Road in Norfolk in a 2020 Toyota 4runner, losing control due to snowy conditions. The vehicle left the road and sustained disabling damage, requiring a tow. Thorpe-cole received a warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

‘Act of nature’

On Saturday, Feb. 15, at approximately midnight, Michael Langendoefer, 57, of Norfolk, was northbound on Route 272 near the entrance to Haystack Mountain Park in a 1997 Toyota 4runner when the vehicle encountered black ice, running off the road and striking a guardrail. The vehicle was towed from the scene. No enforcement was issued to this “act of nature,” the trooper concluded.

Icy roads

On Sunday, Feb. 16, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Cora Rydingsword, 22, of Lakeville, was eastbound on Route 44 near Ore Hill Road in Salisbury when icy roads caused the 2011 Honda Pilot to spin and crash into an embankment. Rydingsword was given a verbal warning for violation of a statute requiring tires to be in safe operating condition. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Hits utility pole

On Sunday, Feb. 16 at approximately 3:45 p.m., Keegan Olsen, 19, of Falls Village, was southbound on Sand Road in North Canaan in a 1998 Acura when the back end of the vehicle lost traction due to slushy conditions, resulting in a collision with a utility pole. Olsen was transported to Sharon Hospital for a minor head injury.The vehicle was towed from the scene, and the driver was issued a warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Contact us by mail at P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send an email, with “police blotter” in the subject line, to johnc@lakevillejournal.com

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