37°
Russell Stidolph, 35, of 19 Bluff Ave., Norwalk, brought $5,000 with him when he went to Norwalk police headquarters to turn himself in for arrest at 3:22 p.m. Monday. That was the amount of the bond set for the charges he faced after his Porsche 911 took flight on the evening of Nov. 19 and hit the roof of a porch on a Rowayton home.
The call came in at 11:25 p.m. Nov. 19. Police found Stidolph in his upside-down Porsche in the front yard of 24 Highland Ave. The car was damaged on all sides, but Stidolph said he was in no pain. He had lost consciousness and said he didn't remember what had happened. Evidence showed that Stidolph had plowed through a 2-foot-high stone wall and bushes. His car was airborne for 45 feet before it struck the roof overhang and the center support beam of the home. The car then fell backward and landed on its roof, facing away from the house.
Dirt, grass and debris was scattered on the porch and inside the house. A rock from the stone wall flew through the front window, across the living room and landed on a dining room chair. Items were knocked off the walls on the first and second floors, and there were cracks in the sheetrock. A building inspector told the homeowner it was safe for her to stay in the house.
It was a clear night; the road was well lighted and dry, and there were no potholes Stidolph may have hit. Police found the stop sign at McKinley Street and Highland Avenue on the ground, and 3 inches of post left in the ground. Stidolph said he didn't remember anything but said he had been going 35 mph.
Stidolph was charged with failure to wear a seatbelt, traveling unreasonable fast, operating under the influence, failure to obey a stop sign and reckless driving. His first court date is Jan. 13.
Follow the Daily Norwalk on Twitter.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
