Motorcyclist Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries, Arrest Made: PD

ORANGE, CT — A West Haven man in an apparent "road-rage" incident is accused of hitting a motorcyclist causing the victim to lose control and sustain life-threatening injuries, Orange Police said. Police say the accused tried unsuccessfully to hit the motorcyclist initially but on the second try the driver of the SUV did strike the motorcyclist.

The accused fled the scene but was later apprehended in Derby, police say. At 5:23 p.m. Saturday, police were called to Route 34 westbound regarding a motor vehicle accident between an SUV and a motorcycle.

Police found the motorcycle rider had landed in the roadway and lost his helmet, police said. He suffered a life-threatening head injury, police said. He was given medical treatment on scene and taken to a local hospital, police said.

Jerzy Narowski, 63, of West Haven, who was driving the SUV, left the scene, police said. Witnesses were able to give officers a description of the vehicle and the events that occurred, police said.

Derby Police located Narowski's vehicle and stopped it and he was arrested.

"Witnesses described a ‘road-rage’ situation where the arrestee and the motorcycle rider were arguing with each other along Route 34. At some point, the arrestee swerved his vehicle into the path of the motorcycle, but the cyclist was able to maintain travel. The SUV swerved at the motorcycle again, striking it, causing the cyclist to lost control and be ejected from the motorcycle," Orange Police said in a news release. "The cyclist landed on the pavement, where he lost his helmet before coming to a stop."

Narowski is charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and evading the scene of a motor vehicle accident. He is being held in lieu of a $75,000 bond. Police say it's possible additional charges may be filed.

The Orange Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or the events leading up to it, is asked to contact Officer Denny Peterson at 203.891.2130 x409.