Drunk driving accident outside New Milford High School could have been catastrophic, police chief says

“It is only by sheer luck that we are not dealing with one or more pedestrian deaths today,” New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro said after an accused drunk driver crashed his car across the street from New Milford High School — at 3:40 p.m.

Jerry DeMarco

02/25/2011 10:04 p.m.

Although school had already let out, “that does not diminish the unthinkable possibilities of what could have unfolded,” the chief said.

John Giessuebel, 41, was headed north on River Road Thursday afternoon when his car veered off at the intersection of Milford Avenue, crossed into oncoming traffic and kept going across the sidewalk before crashing into a fence, Papapietro said.

Giessubbel, of Oak Ridge, was arrested and charged with DWI after he refused a breath test. He was also charged with DWI in a school zone and with having a small amount of pot that Papapietro said he had apparently been smoking.

Giesseubel has worked since Oct. 2009 as a branch sales manager at Ace Copy Systems Inc., supplies printers, scanners, faxes and other copying devices, according to his LinkedIn profile. He remains free pending a Municipal Court hearing.

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