A motorcycle rider was badly injured Friday after crashing into a concrete barrier on Route 67 and falling off a bridge into Hoadley Pond.
Erik Turski, 22, of Seymour, was listed in critical condition at Yale-New Haven Hospital as of 12 a.m. Saturday, a clinical supervisor at the hospital said.
Turski was thrown from his 1991 Harley Davidson and fell some 15 feet off the bridge and into the water.
Police, firefighters and emergency medical responders jumped into the mucky waters to help pull Turski out.
Several people who came upon the accident, including a Bridgeport fireman, also jumped into the water to help, according to police officers on scene. Police did not identify those people.
The crash happened at about 4 p.m.
Turski’s precise injuries were not known but initial radio dispatches said he was suffering from an “obvious leg injury.”
There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
Kyle Kelley, assistant chief of the Seymour Ambulance Association, was one of several first responders who went into the water to rescue Turski.
“It’s very muddy and deep,” Kelley said, as he let his wet socks air out after the rescue.
Turski had to be lifted out of the pond in a fire rescue basket.
Witnesses on scene said Turski was driving fast on Route 67 heading east, and lost control of the motorcycle near the intersection of Bank and West streets, according to Police Chief Michael E. Metzler.
Metzler said after sliding a few hundred feet, the motorcycle and its rider hit the barrier on the bridge, which launched him over the side and into the water.
The bridge is immediately after a slight curve in the road, and has been the scene of accidents in the past, Metzler said.
“It’s been several years since we’ve had somebody in this pond,” Metzler said. “I’d say it’s been ten years.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if Turski was wearing a helmet.
A 22-year-old, on a motorcycle, speeding on a busy road, approaching a dangerous curve. I’m sorry, but he deserved what he got because young adults often behave in a dangerous way and think they are invincible. This should be a lesson to all that behaving in a non-responsible manner, will only cause trouble.
Thats a pretty harsh thing to say. I’m sure his mother wouldn’t appreciate your heartless comment. While his accident may have been of his doing, certainly no one “deserves” those injuries. No one knows what goes on in someone’s mind or why they are driving reckless. Have you ever had a bad day or made a poor decision? I am sad for him and his family.
It doesn’t matter who appreciates the comments when they are based in fact. What “if” by his driving reckless he struck a car and killed someone, then what would you be saying? His actions put others at risk and everyone was lucky nobody else got hurt. Hopefully this event will turn around this person’s life and make him appreciate that life is short could be taken away in a heartbeat. If he continues to act in a careless manner after this event, then he won’t be around for long. I have no remorse for people who cause harm, I only feel remorse for the people who this person and people like him hurt.
I hope you never find yourself in the situation where a family member either dies or is severely injures due to poor choices. I am not saying that Eric was correct in his behavior I am simply saying that it is very mean spirited to say he deserves his injuries. Yes he was very fortunate that no one else was injured and we can only hope this will be his wake up call. Your what ifs thankfully didn’t happen. Obviuosly you as a young person had never made poor choices in your life and I commend you. Some people are not as wise or righteous as you. If only the rest of us imperfect people could learn from you. Do you give classes that we might take?