FAIRFIELD – Jumping off a burning motorcycle is not usually an exercise that Officer James Chueka usually includes in motorcycle training classes, but that was the unintended lesson Norwalk Officer John Haggerty learned Monday.
"We were just on our way to get some sandwiches," Chueka said, when Haggerty had to pull over on Reef Road near Bud's Deli as flames erupted from the training bike – a Kawasaki 1000. Haggerty was able to get off the Fairfield-owned motorcycle before it was engulfed in flames, which officers sent to the scene said leapt as high as the overhead utility wires.
Haggerty wasn't injured and was, in fact, trying to locate another motorcycle to use to continue his training as the burned hulk was being towed away. The blaze even singed bushes at 73 Reef Road, while the motorcycle was a complete loss. Chueka said the motorcycle, which was used only for training, was road ready and, it appears a mechanical malfunction caused the fire. "We didn't know we'd be teaching how to get off burning motorcycles," Chueka said, but added, "all joking aside, he was lucky he got off it and wasn't hurt."
