Motorcycle crash claims life of Marine who survived bullets in Afghanistan

Naugatuck Marine dies in motorcycle crash

BY ALIA MALIK REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Marine Cpl. Matthew Tooker, 25, of Naugatuck, pictured here in Afghanistan.

NAUGATUCK -- Marine Cpl. Matthew A. Tooker was shot twice in Afghanistan last year and survived to run the Marine Corps Marathon in honor of his fallen comrades.

Now someone will have to run the race for him.

Tooker, 25, who lived at 123 Carriage Drive, died early Saturday after crashing his motorcycle into a telephone pole on Osborn Road, Lt. Robert Harrison of the Naugatuck Police Department said.

Preliminary reports indicate Tooker was traveling eastbound when he struck a curb and lost control of the 2001 Honda CBR900 sport motorcycle he was riding. The motorcycle eventually crashed into a pole near 183 Osborn Road, Harrison said. Police are still trying to determine Tooker's speed and whether he was under the influence of alcohol. He was not wearing a helmet and had a motorcycle learner's permit, which does not allow nighttime riding, Harrison said.
read more here