Yet Another Crash in Byram Results in Multiple Charges

On Monday around 2:30am residents in Byram woke up to another car crash.

“This is the third time in front of our house,” said Melissa Dudas.

According to Greenwich Police the driver of a pickup truck struck a parked car on Mead Ave, at which time the truck became disabled.

The driver of this pickup truck was charged with DUI on April 4, 2022 following a crash on Mill Street in Byram. Contributed photo

“The operator of the pick up truck failed the field sobriety tests and subsequent breath tests at GPD,” said Lt Martin O’Reilly. “There were no injuries reported.”

On Tuesday, O’Reilly released the name of the driver.

Juan Carlos Reyes-Pantoja, 27, was charged with DUI and Failure to Drive in Proper Lane. He was released after posting the required 10% of his $250.00 bond. 

He has a date in Stamford Superior Court on April 15, 2022.

Greenwich Police typically patrol the area in the overnight hours. DUI arrests are frequent. So are crashes.

Neighbors have expressed frustration with the frequency of speeding cars and crashes in the area of Mill Street and Delavan Ave, and its side streets. The area is a cut through between exit 2 at I95 in Greenwich and Port Chester, NY.

Just a couple weeks ago a drunk driver in a Ford F-150 pickup truck struck three vehicles and a tree before coming to a stop on Delavan Ave. The driver fled the scene, but he was located nearby. He was arrested and charged Driving without Insurance, Evading Responsibility, DUI, Failure to Drive in Proper Lane and Driving without a License.

In January a driver involved in a crash in the area of Ritch Ave in Byram fled the scene, but was located shortly after at his home.

Last June neighbors shared photographs of a rollover crash on Mead Ave that involved a Range Rover that hit a Jeep. The driver and passenger were charged with drug offenses.

A driver charged after an October 2020 crash on Mead Ave had already crashed on a nearby street moments earlier. She was charged with DUI as well.

At last week’s BET public hearing, Byram residents urged the board members to fund the $300,000 request for traffic and pedestrian safety projects in the area.

“We need stop signs. We need speed bumps, we need crosswalks,” said Nick Wiltsie. “We need to slow cars down.”

Lucy von Brachel pointed out that almost every New Lebanon School student walks to school as there are no school buses in the neighborhood school. She noted that with the construction of numerous multi story housing on North Main Street over the bridge in Port Chester, NY the neighborhood is facing ever increasing traffic volume.

Crash on Mill Street on Monday, April 4, 2022 Contributed photo
Damage resulting from a crash in the early morning hours of April 4, 2022 on Mill Street. Contributed photo