Police Follow Fluid Trail From Crash, Uncover Underage Drinking

While tracking the driver of a Ford who fled from the scene of a motor vehicle crash by following a five-mile trail of leaking fluid, police officers uncovered a Pond Brook Road house party with alcohol and seven underage youths, according to police reports.

The discovery came following a call to police dispatchers at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday from the passenger of an Audi that was rear-ended while stopped at the intersection of Hanover and Schoolhouse Hill roads, police said.

The Audi, driven by Neil Swanson, 54, of 12 Mystic Lane, Norwalk, was by the stop sign at the intersection when it was hit from behind by a Ford sedan, police said.

The Ford driver then left the scene without saying a word to Swanson, police said. Swanson was uninjured from the crash but his passenger suffered unspecified injuries, and was taken to Danbury Hospital, police said.

As part of their investigation, officers noticed the Ford had left behind a distinctive trail of fluid, and so they followed it for five miles and found the Ford parked in the driveway of 10 Pond Brook Road, and the alleged driver at the residence, police said.

The 17-year-old driver, whom police did not identify because of his age, was charged with driving under the influence, evading responsibility, following too closely and distracted driving. He was released on $50 and is to appear Oct. 4 in state Superior Court in Danbury.

While at the home, police also issued two infractions for permitting minors to possess alcohol and possession of alcohol by a minor to Nicole Finkenstadt, 19, of 10 Pond Brook Road.

Matthew Aponte, 18, of 54 Marlin Road; Gregory Demenna, 19, of 3 Farmery Lane; Evan Andrew Barreto, 18, of 12 Hundred Acres Road; and three other juveniles also were issued infractions for possession of alcohol by minors. Police did not release the identity of the juveniles because they were younger than 18-years-old.

Infractions are issued for first-time offenses and carry with them an amount of $136 each.

A message seeking comment was left for the residents of the Pond Brook Road home.

Editor's note: This article has been updated from an earlier version to include additional information police released in subsequent reports.

Second editor's note: The driver charged with DUI was operating a Ford sedan. An earlier version of this article misidentified the body type.