Paul Minigiello was struck by a car driven by Eric Hudimatch, 24, of Stonecrest Road, on March 4 after a confrontation over driving, police said. Hudimatch's appearance in court Tuesday on charges of third-degree assault and reckless operation of a motor vehicle was continued to Friday.
In an affidavit supporting Hudimatch's arrest, another man told investigating police officers he and Minigiello were involved in a road-rage incident in the same vicinity in February.
When contacted by The News-Times, Hudimatch and Minigiello declined to comment and each requested his attorney be called.
Hudimatch's attorney, James Diamond, said Tuesday he had "no comment" until Hudimatch has his day in court. A call to Minigiello's attorney, Hubert Santos, was not returned.
The March 4 incident occurred as Hudimatch was returning to his home on Stonecrest Road from work at Radio Shack in Ridgefield. Minigiello, whose age police would not release, also was driving to Stonecrest Road, to see his three children and his estranged wife, Lois Harrison.
In the arrest warrant affidavit, Hudimatch said Minigiello blocked the road in front of his car and "exited his vehicle and began to run towards my vehicle."
"As he approached my vehicle he appeared furious and was mouthing something," Hudimatch continues, ". . . his arms raised in the air and lunged towards me and my car. At this time I was in fear of my life and I believe he was going to attempt to rip me out of the car because I have heard of incidents where people have been killed."
It was approximately 6:20 p.m. when Hudimatch's vehicle came up behind Minigiello's SUV on North Street, according to the affidavit.
Minigiello was driving slowly and Hudimatch said he flashed his lights when Minigiello "hit the brakes" in front of his car. As both drivers turned onto Stonecrest Road, Minigiello stopped his red SUV in the middle of the road, blocking Hudimatch's path, the affidavit said.
Minigiello then left his SUV, leaving the door open, and moved toward Hudimatch's car. Hudimatch said he drove away in fear. Because a stone pillar was on the side of the road behind his car, he said he was unable to back up.
"When I hit my gas pedal I heard a bump and I thought that I bumped the operator of the red SUV with my bumper," Hudimatch said in the affidavit. "I did not believe that the operator of the red SUV was injured so I continued up Stonecrest Road to my residence."
Hudimatch called his mother, then called 911 and frantically asked the dispatcher to stay on the phone with him until the police arrived.
"I was on my way home from work and this maniac started to – like – trying to attack me," the 911 tape recorded Hudimatch saying. " . . . He tried to jump on the hood of my car and I just I just (sic) tried to drive as I drove away (sic) and he like like fell off my car and I'm freaking out."
Minigiello told police Officer Lawrence Clarke during the investigation, "I am claustrophobic and get flustered with other drivers. I easy can become upset when people tailgate me.
"I have always had problems with my temper . . . I was in a great mood when I left the Frame Shop on 3/4/06. I was happy to go home and see my children."
Harrison told police that her husband couldn't remember what happened.
He was found on the road by neighbors, "bleeding from the head." His SUV was in the road, "running with the lights on," said Gary Green, a man who came on the scene, in the affidavit.
Minigiello was taken to Danbury Hospital by ambulance, where he was found to have "multiple pelvic bone fractures, fractured left side collar bone, two ribs on each side of his chest with a slightly collapsed lung, lacerations about his left eye" and other symptoms, according to the affidavit.
He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven.
Harrison told Clarke that she and Minigiello were not living together at the time of the accident and that her husband has a "terrible" temper, according to the affidavit. She also said he had been "arrested in New York City (1998) for a road-rage incident," the affidavit said.
Stephen D. Main, who was present at the scene of the incident, told police in a sworn, notarized statement he "recognized this victim from a previous incident with him."
Main said on Feb. 3 at 9 a.m., he and Minigiello had an exchange at the intersection of Stonecrest and Dowling. Minigiello had "given me the finger" and pulled his Jeep into Main's vehicle's path. He got out of his Jeep and yelled at Main, the affadavit said.
Main said Minigiello called his business twice after that incident, the first time "yelling and swearing about my driver (me)." The second time he left a long message on Main's voice mail that included, "I'll be seeing you again – you can bet on it."
On Feb. 14, 2006, Main said, he went to the police department to express his concern about the event, but he did not pursue the issue.
Contact Susan Tuz
or at (203) 731-3352.