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Sports blog: Warrior Nation

By KARA O'CONNOR

Villager Staff Writer


WILTON -- A Wilton man involved in a fatal crash on Ridgefield Road pleaded not guilty Tuesday to manslaughter.

According to police, Gregory Dionisio, 21, of 221 Catalpa Road, was traveling northbound on Ridgefield Road at 7:28 a.m. on July 5 and crashed into 50-year-old Wilton resident Thomas Fleming, throwing him from his motorcycle. Both Dionisio and Fleming were transported to Norwalk Hospital, where Fleming "succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving," according to police reports.

The grey 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier convertible driven by Dionisio was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident, according to police reports.

Dionisio, who turned himself in on Aug. 27 after learning there was a warrant for his arrest, was charged with manslaughter with a motor vehicle in the second degree while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, failure to drive right on a curve and failure to wear a seatbelt.

"There are not words to articulate the great sorrow and regret Gregory Dionisio has," said Pat Bonanno, Dionisio's attorney, at Norwalk Superior Court on Tuesday morning. "My client wishes to express the deepest remorse and regret for the Fleming family."

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, while being treated in the emergency area in the Norwalk Hospital, Dionisio attempted to drink his own urine. The affidavit stated that one of the emergency room nurses took the bed pan Dionisio was attempting to drink out of and submitted the urine sample to the hospital's lab. A search warrant was then issued for Dionisio's blood and urine samples, which were taken during his stay at the hospital.

The affidavit states that toxicology test results show the 21-year-old had a blood alcohol content level of .09 percent and tested positive for THC -- the main psycoactive drug in marijuana -- cocaine and ecstasy.

According to Bonanno, Dionisio has been seeking treatment at the Riverside Support Center in New York for physical and mental trauma due to this incident.

"This is a tragedy all around," said Bonanno. "It's a very complex case."

Jim Shillah, owner of Connecticut Coffee in Wilton who knew Thomas Fleming for many years, said he is outraged Dionisio is pleading not guilty.

"I feel terrible for the Fleming family," said Shillah, who attended the arraignment. "It is so obvious this kid is guilty. He had drugs in his system, he was drunk and he killed Tom Fleming. It amazes me he is pleading not guilty."

Chris Fleming, Thomas Fleming's brother, said he thinks justice will eventually be served in this case.

"Going to this trial brings back old memories and makes me think of the death of Tom two months ago that was just so unexpected," he said. "I have faith in the system and I think that justice will eventually be served -- maybe not to the degree I want it to, but it will be served."

Dionisio's case has been continued until Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Norwalk Superior Court.

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