SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - A fire that broke out in a South Salem home on Monday, June 22, injured a Vista firefighter, who fell through the home's first floor into the basement. No occupants were in the home at the time. The firefighter was transported to Norwalk Hospital for evaluation. The fire drew responses from Lewisboro Police, the Vista Fire Department, Bedford Police, and other emergency personnel.
Vehicular violations and accidents dominated Lewisboro Police activity during the latter part of June. Police impounded seven vehicles for a variety of equipment violations and operator-related offenses. In each case, the driver either had an expired license or no license at all.
On June 18, a Lewisboro officer conducting traffic enforcement on Route 22 in Goldens Bridge spotted a vehicle with no front license plate and a cracked windshield. After stopping the vehicle, the officer asked for the driver's license. The driver responded, "I have no license," and produced a Guatemalan identification card. The officer confirmed through the eJustice database that the driver was unlicensed. East Towing impounded the vehicle, and the driver was issued three tickets.
A Lewisboro officer parked on a street in South Salem on June 24 observed a vehicle with darkly tinted windows run the stop sign at West Lane and Stonewall Court. After stopping the vehicle, the officer asked the driver for his license. The driver produced a Brazilian passport and said he was unlicensed. The officer verified this through eJustice. Sal's Towing impounded the vehicle, and the driver was ticketed for driving without a valid license and running a stop sign.
Later that day, an officer stopped a vehicle in the Orchard Square Shopping Center parking lot for violating state Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375, which governs required vehicle equipment. The driver was found to have a suspended license. Sal's Towing impounded the vehicle, and the driver received three tickets.
On June 27, an officer conducting traffic enforcement near the Vista Fire Department spotted a northbound vehicle with a cracked windshield. After stopping the vehicle, the officer learned the driver had no license and instead produced a Honduran passport. Sal's Towing impounded the vehicle. The owner arrived at the scene and was ticketed under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 509 for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate the vehicle. The driver also received tickets for violating the same section and Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375.
Incidents and Accidents
Two officers on patrol on Route 35 in South Salem stopped a vehicle for an expired registration sticker, a cracked windshield, and inoperative brake lights. The driver was unlicensed and received four tickets for unlicensed operation, operating an unregistered vehicle, and the equipment violations. East Towing impounded the vehicle.
Later that day, an officer traveling south on Route 123 stopped a vehicle with darkly tinted windows. The officer also found the vehicle had only one functioning brake light. The driver, who produced a Brazilian passport, had no operator's license. Sal's Towing impounded the vehicle, and the driver received three traffic tickets.
The latter part of June also brought an unusually high number of reports of downed trees and utility wires along Lewisboro roadways, including a June 22 incident described below that resulted in two crashes. In other incidents on June 15, 16, 18, and 20, police worked with highway crews, utility companies, and emergency personnel to clear roadways and address hazards.
Lewisboro Police responded to the following motor vehicle accidents:
Monday, June 15: Police responded to an accident on Conant Valley Road in Pound Ridge after a tree fell into the roadway and struck the rear of an eastbound vehicle. The vehicle sustained extensive damage, but the driver was not injured. The Lewisboro Highway Department removed the tree.
Tuesday, June 16: A driver traveling east on Route 35 in Cross River reported striking an unknown object in the roadway before leaving the road and hitting a guardrail. EMS personnel evaluated the driver at the scene, but the driver declined medical treatment. East Towing removed the vehicle.
Tuesday, June 16: Lewisboro and New York State Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Routes 35 and 121. The South Salem Fire Department, Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and Westchester EMS evaluated both drivers.
Saturday, June 20: A vehicle stopped on eastbound Route 35 in Cross River while attempting to turn left onto Spring Street was struck from behind. Both vehicles sustained major damage. The first driver reported neck and back pain, while a passenger reported neck pain. The driver and a passenger in the second vehicle both reported knee pain. All parties declined medical treatment. East Towing removed the second vehicle, while the first was driven from the scene.
Sunday, June 21: Two vehicles traveling westbound on Route 35 in Cross River collided when the vehicle in the right lane attempted to turn left onto Cherry Lane, striking the vehicle traveling alongside it in the center lane. Both vehicles sustained damage but remained operable, and no injuries were reported.
Monday, June 22: A vehicle traveling east on Route 35 in Cross River struck a tree as it fell into the roadway. Neither the driver nor the passenger was injured, but the vehicle had to be towed. About 10 minutes later, another crash occurred along the same stretch of roadway as traffic slowed because of the road closure. A stopped vehicle was struck from behind. Neither vehicle required towing, and no injuries were reported.
Saturday, June 27: A driver traveling east on Route 138 in Goldens Bridge attempted to turn left onto Increase Miller Road, misjudged the turn, drove off the right shoulder, and struck a berm. No injuries were reported. Sal's Towing removed the vehicle.
Odor Complaint, Scam
Among other incidents, Lewisboro Police responded to a report of an unusual odor inside a South Salem home on June 21. The South Salem Fire Department determined the source was a leaking oil tank and mitigated the leak.
A fraud complaint capped the month's activity when a Katonah resident reported that someone had accessed her American Airlines frequent-flyer account on two occasions, converted accumulated miles into cash value, and used the funds to purchase Amazon gift cards. The incident had already been reported to American Airlines, which required a police report before issuing a refund.
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