Naugatuck man charged after fleeing accident scene

0
186

Naugatuck police and fire crews responded to the scene of an accident at 87 South Main St. about 7:15 p.m. Thursday. –RA ARCHIVE
Naugatuck police and fire crews responded to the scene of an accident at 87 South Main St. about 7:15 p.m. Thursday. –RA ARCHIVE

NAUGATUCK — A borough man is facing charges after police say he got into two accidents on South Main Street then fled the scene Thursday night.

Jonathan Batista, 28, of 90 Oak St., was charged with two counts of evading responsibility, unsafe backing and following a vehicle too closely after police caught up to him at his home a couple of hours after the accident.

At about 7:15 p.m. Batista rear-ended a car at a stop light, backed up and sped away driving backward on South Main Street before slamming into another vehicle near the intersection of Hotchkiss Street, police said.

Despite losing his rear bumper, his car sound system and several other car amenities in the second accident, Batista drove off again and headed toward High Street, police said.

Batista dumped the 2000 Acura Integra at 291 High St., where officers found the car. The registration information led them to Batista’s home.

Police are investigating whether Batista’s motivation to flee was because he was on probation.

Chris Bisson of Naugatuck was in his Jeep Wrangler at a red light when Batista’s car hit his Jeep.

“I thought he was backing up to get out and all of the sudden he takes off in the other lane going backward,” Bisson said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

Bisson was not injured.

A man and woman involved in the second accident were taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Batista was being held on bond and scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Friday.