Man jailed for hit-skip crash fatal to bicyclist

10/10/2003

A West Toledo man, who has a suspended driver's license, was booked into the Lucas County Jail yesterday on charges that he hit and killed a bicyclist last week on Dorr Street.

Jason P. Opaczewski, 21, of 1910 Harlan Rd., was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and failing to stop after the hit-skip accident. He was being held pending arraignment today in Toledo Municipal Court.

Toledo police said he was driving westbound in the 5500 block of Dorr on Oct. 3 when he hit the rear of a bicycle being ridden by Thomas B. Connors, 22, of West Toledo. Mr. Opaczewski then fled, police said.

Mr. Connors, who apparently was riding home when the accident occurred, died from neck injuries. At the time of the accident, Mr. Opaczewski's driver's license was suspended until 2008, according to court records.

The records don't state why his license was suspended, however, he was convicted of driving while intoxicated last year in Sylvania Municipal Court. In May, he was cited in the same court for driving without a license and failing to display license plates.