A Shelton man accused of crashing into three parked cars in Ansonia, along with a street sign, a fire hydrant and a utility pole blamed a stuck accelerator for causing the crashes, according to police.
Police received several 911 calls around 5:24 p.m. on Monday from people reporting that a white color truck with a black hood hit parked vehicles on Wakelee Avenue, then hit a utility pole near exit 19.
Police arrived to find a pickup with heavy damage, a utility pole broken in half and the traffic light to the ground.
As police investigated, they determined that the same truck had been involved in a crash at Howard Avenue and Jackson Street and hit a street sign and fire hydrant were struck, police said.
After the initial crash, the truck continued west on Jackson Street, then north onto Wakelee Avenue and struck three more vehicles before hitting the utility pole at the intersection of Exit 19 and stopping, police said.
Justin Masek, 26, of Shelton, was taken into custody and charged with three counts of evading responsibility and one count of reckless driving.
Masek told police the accelerator of his truck got stuck, causing the crashes, police said.
He was held on $5000.00 bond and will appear in Derby court on Tuesday.
Police said power had to be shut down on the west side of
Ansonia and the north end of town because of the crashes.
Power was restored overnight and the utility pole was replaced.
Authorities removed the signal lights at the intersection of Wakelee Avenue and exit 19 and temporary stop signs have been installed.
