Man accused of racing through park, crashing faces felony

A 20-year-old man accused of racing past pedestrians in Port Washington’s Upper Lake Park before crashing his car into a boulder has been charged with a felony in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

Port Washington resident Bryce N. Plier, who authorities say was drunk at the time of the crash, which was so severe it moved the 400-pound boulder nearly 30 feet and sent his car flying through the air, faces one count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and three misdemeanor bail jumping charges.

According to a criminal complaint, police officers were called to the park at 7:58 p.m. Monday, July 6, for a report of a vehicle that sped through the park before crashing.

The complaint notes that the speed limit on the road that loops through the park is 25 mph and includes a well-used pedestrian path separated from traffic only by road markings.

Before officers arrived, Plier called authorities to report he was the driver of the vehicle that crashed.

Officers arrived to find Plier’s vehicle resting on the grass in the park and debris spread across a 30-yard area. The car sustained significant front and rear-end damage and the air bags had deployed. An alcohol bottle was also found at the scene.

It appeared Plier entered the north end of the park from Hales Trail heading south, lost control of his vehicle as the road loops around and hit the boulder, the complaint states.

Three people who were walking in the park at the time told officers they heard Plier’s car approaching from 45 to 50 feet away and estimated it to be traveling at 55 to 60 mph, according to the complaint.

The pedestrians said they saw Plier attempt to turn before his vehicle skidded into the boulders along the road. They said his vehicle was launched 7 to 8 feet in the air, the complaint states.

The walkers told officers they saw Plier get out of the vehicle and went to check on him. He was swearing and repeatedly said, “I’m so (expletive)” while picking up pieces of his car and trying to move the boulder back in place, according to the complaint.

A Hales Trail resident told officers that he saw three young women walk into the park shortly before Plier raced by at what the man estimated to be 65 mph. He said he saw the crash and ran to the scene to check on the women and driver.

When officers made contact with Plier, they noted he smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot and he had trouble maintaining his balance. He said he had been drinking at a friend’s house, went for a drive to “blow off steam” and was driving at only 20 mph through the park, the complaint states.

A preliminary breath test indicated Plier had an alcohol level of .132. Another test showed his alcohol level was .12, according to the complaint.

People who were with Plier earlier in the day told officers that he made threatening comments about family members, was seeking alcohol and drugs and made comments that led them to believe he was suicidal and intended to crash his car, the complaint states.

Plier is charged with bail jumping because at the time of the crash he was free in lieu of bail in two cases charging him with battery, two counts of disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

During a July 8 court hearing, Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Sandy Williams set bail for Plier in the most recent case at $5,000 and ordered him not to drive a vehicle and submit to alcohol monitoring if released from jail.