Girl, 17, stable after Tuesday crash

A 19-year-old New Milford man and his 17-year-old female passenger were transported to Danbury Hospital Tuesday morning after the man's car struck a power pole at 3 a.m.

The man, Joseph Portunato, 19, was treated and released, a hospital spokesman said.

His passenger, Katherine Johnson, 17, of Willow Springs, New Milford, was listed in stable condition at the hospital at press time Wednesday evening.

Mr. Portunato, 19, of Grandview Road, New Milford, was driving his 1993 Saab northbound on Route 7 in the southern part of New Milford when his vehicle veered to the right and hit a pole 100 feet north of Bluebonnet Knolls, police said.

The impact snapped the pole in two places and sent Ms. Johnson into the windshield, police said.

Ms. Johnson was treated at the scene for bone fractures and head trauma and was transported by ambulance to Danbury Hospital, Capt. Michael Mrazik of the New Milford Police Department reported.

There was no indication that alcohol was involved, Capt. Mrazik said.

Mr. Portunato was charged with failure to drive in the proper lane and failure to wear a seat belt.

Power was out along Route 7 in New Milford from the area of Taco Bell to the south for one to two hours starting Tuesday at about 10 a.m. as repairs were being made along the line, according to CL & P spokesman Mitch Gross.