Crime & Safety

Updated: Motorcyclist Dies in Fridley Crash

The 24-year-old man was trying to make a turn Saturday night. He wasn't wearing a helmet.

Updated below. A crash in Fridley kiled a 24-year-old motorcyclist Saturday night.

Nicholas Alexander Owczynsky was trying to turn right from southbound University Avenue NE to westbound 73rd Avenue NE at about 9:15 p.m. when he crashed to the pavement, according to a statement from Cmdr. Paul Sommer of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

Owczynsky was not wearing a helmet at the time, Sommer said. He sustained was massive trauma to the head. He went to Hennepin County Medical Center in grave condition and died there later Saturday.

Find out what's happening in Fridleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fridley Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation into the crash.

Update (10:15 a.m. Tuesday): Fridley Police Lt. Mike Monsrud confirmed in a Tuesday morning email that no other vehicle was involved: "It was a single vehicle accident—he lost control going around a corner and went down on his own."

Find out what's happening in Fridleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That may be explain the experience of a commenter at the Fridley Patch Facebook page who said she was nearby but didn't hear or see a crash:

It happened as I was turning onto 73rd to Holiday. I didn't notice it though, but all the cops and ambulances came as I was still filling up on gas. I was confused because I didn't see anything happen, and it seems I should have.

Sophie Wozniak, who said she was Owczynsky's girlfriend and lived with him, also emailed Fridley Patch. She offered corrections on the spelling of his last name and his city of residence (it was Lauderdale, not Coon Rapids, she said). Wozniak added that she was with Owczynsky when he died:

It was a horrible tragedy but he didn't suffer. I take some comfort in that and knowing he died doing what he loved.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Fridley