Derby Police issue advisory about night road work on Derby Avenue

 

 Traffic Advisory – Nightly Road Work on Derby Avenue 

Burns Construction began nightly road work on Derby Avenue between Bank Street and Division Street from 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Crews are installing a new gas line, and this project is anticipated to continue into Fall 2026.

Motorists should expect lane shifts, traffic delays, and the presence of construction personnel and equipment during overnight hours. Please consider using alternate routes when possible.

When traveling through the area, reduce your speed and proceed cautiously through the work zone to ensure the safety of workers and fellow drivers.
Your patience and cooperation are appreciated as this infrastructure improvement project moves forward.

Shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Ansonia Police seek information on 2 accidents Sunday

ANSONIA - An Ansonia police officer was advised by a motorist at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday that their car had been struck by a gray Jeep at the intersection of Bridge and West Main streets, left the scene and was last seen on Pershing Drive, Lt. Patrick Lynch said in a release today. 

The officer attempted to locate the Jeep and found that the Jeep was involved in a second accident on Pershing Drive at Division Street. 

In the second accident the Jeep struck two more vehicles before hitting a pole and catching on fire. The four occupants of the Jeep were all injured with one of them suffering serious head and neck injuries. That passenger is currently in critical condition. 

The names of the parties involved will not be released at this time.

 

Chief Williams would like to thank the Derby Police Department, Ansonia Rescue Medical Services, Ansonia Fire Department, and the Fairfield Police Department Crash Reconstruction Team for their assistance at the scene and during this investigation.

 

The investigation is ongoing and information will be released as it becomes available and necessary to release.

 

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the police department at 203-735-1885 or anonymous tips can be left at Tip411 at the link below.

https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21553

This is a press release from Lt. Patrick Lynch.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Drive-in theater in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the drive-in movie theater during the 1955 flood.

It was located on 20 Division St. in Derby, where McDonald's and BJ's Wholesale Club now reside. The theater had opened in July of 1953 and thus was only open two years before the flood occurred.

After the flood, the screen and concession stand were repaired and they remained in operation until the 1960s.

[First posted on this date in 2017.]

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Phone booths

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This week's "Turnback Tuesday" looks at phone booths. Once located across the country, they are virtually non-existent now. The first coin operated public telephone was located in a bank in Hartford in 1889. Outdoor phone booths made their entrance in the early 1900s.

This booth was located on Route 115 by Division Street, Elm Street, and Derby Avenue.

[First posted on this date in 2018.]

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

Patronize Division St. McDonald's Wednesday in Derby, support Irving School

 

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Division Street Bridge

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a postcard from 1910 of the Division Street Bridge across the Naugatuck River. At the time, the bridge was in disrepair. According to the Evening Sentinel, six of the planks were so badly damaged that it was feared horses going across it would fall through. The bridge was eventually replaced after World War I and again after the 1955 flood with the bridge that currently still stands.
[First posted on this date in 2017.]
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

Patronize McDonald's Division Street in Derby, support O'Brien Tech Condors

Patronize McDonald's Wednesday, support Derby High School baseball team

 

'Turnback Tuesday' memory features Division Street bridge

A "Turnback Tuesday" memory from this date in 2017 features a postcard from 1910 of the Division Street Bridge across the Naugatuck River. At the time, the bridge was in disrepair. According to the Evening Sentinel, six of the planks were so badly damaged that it was feared horses going across it would fall through. The bridge was eventually replaced after World War I and again after the 1955 flood with the bridge that currently still stands.
Thanks as always goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history.

Bridgeport man, 20, arrested in pedestrian's hit-and-run death in Derby

DERBY - Antonio Pereira, 20, of Bridgeport turned himself into the Derby Police Department today [Friday] after learning of a warrant for his arrest. The warrant stems from a Dec. 15, 2022 evading motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian that occurred on Division Street. The police investigation determined Pereira was operating the evading motor vehicle at the time of the accident. Police said Pereira fled the scene of the accident without rendering aid to the victim, John Jepson, 61. Jepson died eight days later in the hospital from the injuries he sustained. Pereira was charged with evading responsibility resulting in death, and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. Pereira posted a court set $50,000 bond and is scheduled to make his first appearance on July 27 at Derby Superior Court. 

This is shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Derby Police report hit and run victim succumbs to injuries

*** Hit and Run Victim Update ***

The Derby Police are saddened to report the Division Street hit and run victim from 12/15/22 succumbed to his injuries over the Holiday weekend at Bridgeport Hospital. He was identified as 61 year-old John Jepson.

Police are still investigating the accident and formal charges are expected against the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.

This is shared from the Derby PD Facebook page.

Derby Police identify suspect, 19, in pedestrian hit and run

*** HIT and RUN UPDATE ***

DERBY - Police have identified a 19 year-old suspect and seized a white Infiniti connected to the pedestrian hit and run on Division Street.

The vehicle has damage consistent with a pedestrian strike and physical evidence located at the scene. Search and arrest warrants are expected.

Unfortunately there is no update on the victim’s condition as he still remains critical.

More information will be provided once formal charges are filed.

This is shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Ansonia Police seeking info on 2 thefts of purses from cars

 

ANSONIA - Ansonia Police investigated two reports of purses stolen from cars this past weekend, one from Cumberland Farms on Pershing Drive and the other from Stop and Shop on Division Street, Lt. Patrick Lynch said this afternoon in a release.

 

On Saturday at about 11:55 a.m., a female in the Stop and Shop parking lot was putting groceries in her car when someone entered the unlocked front passenger door and took her purse. 

The victim described the suspect as a black male, 5’10” tall wearing a black jacket and he was the passenger in a dark-colored SUV. 

A review of the surveillance video showed a person wearing a black jacket exit the passenger side of a grey Jeep Cherokee enter the victim’s car then return to the Jeep and leave the area. 

The Jeep had a New Jersey license plate, V67KHF, and had been reported stolen out of Stamford prior to this incident.

 

At about 7:25 a.m. Sunday, a female stopped for gas at the Cumberland Farms and when she got into her car after getting gas her purse was missing. 

The victim did not see anyone enter her car. The surveillance video from the store showed a black Dodge Challenger in the lot pull up on the passenger side of the victim’s car. A passenger from the Dodge gets out and less than 15 seconds later gets back in the Dodge and leave the lot.  

The quality of the video did not allow better description of the suspect or vehicle used by the suspect.

 

The department is asking anyone with information to please contact 203-735-1885 or tips can be left anonymously through TIP 411 at the link below.

https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21553

This is a press release from Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch.

Recuperation journey: Sharing Facebook memory from 4 years ago

I took this from the passenger seat on May 22, 2016. Love the clouds!

'Turnback Tuesday' features long-gone telephone booth in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" looks at telephone booths. 
Once located across the country, they are virtually non-existent now. 
The first coin-operated public telephone was located in a bank in Hartford in 1889. Outdoor phone booths made their entrance in the early 1900s. 
The booth pictured above was located on Route 115 near Division Street, Elm Street in Ansonia, and Derby Avenue in Derby.


Thanks as always to the Derby Public Library for sharing this interesting local history!

Sharing message about paving project from Derby City/Town Clerk

To All Derby Residents and travelers using Derby Avenue in Derby, Ct.,

This office has been informed by the Department of Public Works that the milling and paving of Derby Avenue between Main Street and Division Street will take place beginning the evening of April 30.

All should be aware of the following:

Between Division Street and Main Street, Derby Avenue will be closed and there will be no parking allowed during the follow times:

April 30 at 7 p.m. until 6 a.m on May 1, for milling.

May 1 at 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. on May 2 for milling.

May 7 at 7 p.m until 6 a.m. on May 8 for paving.

May 8 at 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. on May 9 for paving.

Police will direct the detour during the closure times.

Any questions regarding the milling and paving project may be directed to the Department of Public Works at 203-736-1468 or by visiting http://www.derbyct.gov/Function/.

Valley mystery photo: Update

I posted this on Monday:

My daughter Allegra and I attended a program Sunday at the Seymour Historical Society about The Woodbury Path. 
Seymour resident Peter Rzasa presented an interesting series of old photos from the Valley during his talk.


Any guesses where this photo was taken many years ago? 


*Update: There were a few good guesses on Facebook, but nobody got it right. 
Believe it or not, it's Division Street in Ansonia/Derby.