Landscaping Van Driver Loses Control, Hits House During Blizzard

A Ford Transit minivan registered to Landscape Specialties LLC of Centerbrook, struck a house on Saybrook Road in Higganum after the driver slid on the wet roadway during a blizzard that hit the area last week.

According to a police report, the driver, Donnie Velez, 23, of Moodus was going south on Saybrook Road around 4:40 p.m. on March 7 when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the north side of a home located at 242 Saybrook Road.

Velez was not injured, but structural damage was caused to the home and the vehicle sustained severe front end damage. The van was removed from the scene by New Image Auto.

Velez was issued a warning for failure to drive right.

Haddam Volunteer Fire Company and Haddam Volunteer Ambulance were both on the scene of the accident.

According to the Connecticut Judicial website, Velez has four cases pending from 2013. The first, dated February 5, Velez pleaded not guilty to charges of traveling unreasonable fast and failure to carry a registration and/or insurance card.