A 23-year-old man who nearly severed his leg during a motorcycle crash in July was riding drunk, police said.
Lt. Paul Satkowski said Erik Turski, a former Seymour High School athlete, almost lost a lot more than a body part.
“He almost lost his life. We didn’t think he was going to make it,” Satkowski said of Erik Turski’s July 9 crash.
Turksi is due in Superior Court Friday June 3 to answer several criminal charges.
The Crash
Police said Turski was traveling at a high rate of speed on his motorcycle on Route 67 and passed several cars before trying to cut back into his lane.
He lost control as he crossed a bridge. The bike hit the bridge abutment, launching Turski off the bridge and into a pond below.
He was fished out by police, EMS workers and people passing by the scene.
Turski was in the hospital for weeks. Blood drives were held in his honor, as he needed 15 pints to make him whole again after the wreck.
Bar Fight
Then, in January, Turski was charged in connection to a drunken bar fight at the Tressle Tavern in Seymour.
In that incident, police responded to a 911 hang up call from the bar, Satkowski said.
Officers interviewed people at the scene and determined that Turski and two others appeared drunk and were asked to leave the bar. Turski was involved in an altercation inside the establishment, police said.
After being handcuffed by police, Turski charged a cop and grabbed the top of the police officer’s holstered weapon.
The officer was able to subdue Turski.
Turski was charged with attempted assault on a public safety officer, a felony. In addition he was charged with breach of peace and interfering with a police officer. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Charges From The Crash
Turski was charged Feb. 13 with operating under the influence, operating a motorcycle without endorsement and operating a motorcycle without insurance.
There was a lag between the crash and the arrest because police had to obtain a search warrant for Turski’s medical records to determine his blood alcohol content.
“It was quite high, nearly three times the legal limit of .08,” Satkowski said.
Turski’s case is winding its way through the court. He has pleaded not guilty to all six charges.
Turski had a court appearance scheduled regarding the driving under the influence charge for Thursday (May 6) in Superior Court in Derby.
A person answering the phone at the court clerk’s office Thursday said there was no public record on the DUI charge, which means Turski could have qualified for an alcohol rehab or a pre-trial diversionary program.
