PASSENGER ANSWERING NATURE’S CALL ON SIDE OF I-95 STRUCK, HURT BY MOTORCYCLE

Old Lyme — State police have charged a New London motorcyclist with numerous motor vehicle offenses after he crashed into a car and man urinating along the edge of Interstate 95 on Saturday afternoon.

Juan Otanez, 19, of 131 Michael Road, Apartment C, was charged Saturday with reckless driving, misuse of registration, driving without insurance and driving without a motorcycle license.

The accident happened around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. A Nissan Altima, being driven by Nicole Forrest, 45, of 38 Fargo Road, Waterford, was parked on the right shoulder of the northbound lanes of the highway between Exits 70 and 71. Elsworth Tavernier, 42, of 15410 107th Avenue, Jamaica, N.Y., a passenger in the car, was outside the vehicle, on the passenger side, urinating, according to an accident report from state police.

Otanez was “recklessly” driving a Honda motorcycle, and splitting lanes of traffic, according to police. He then veered into the right shoulder to pass slower moving traffic, police said, but was unaware that Nissan being driven by Forrest was stopped in the right shoulder. Otanez struck the right rear of the Nissan and then struck Tavernier, the passenger. The highway was briefly closed as a result of the collision.

Both men sustained non-lifethreatening injuries. Tavernier was transported by emergency medical personnel to Yale New Haven Hospital, and Otanez was transported by Life Star helicopter to Hartford Hospital.

State police said the case is closed.