An arrest has been made in connection with the motor vehicle accident that took place over the summer and claimed the life of Tommy Tanski. On Thursday, Austin Buckmann, 18, was charged with traveling unreasonably fast, reckless driving, operating under the influence under the age of 21, failure to drive in the proper lane, second-degree manslaughter, and second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, said Lt. Frederick Sifodaskalakis of the Simsbury Police Department.
The last two charges are both Class C felonies and carry at least one year of prison time, although probation can be granted.
The teen turned himself in and was released on a $25,000 non-surety bond. He will appear in court on Dec. 22 in Enfield.
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Buckmann was the operator of the motor vehicle when Tommy Tanski, 17, was killed when the 1999 Nissan Sentra he was riding in struck a telephone pole near Old Meadow Plain Road and Oak Glen Court East about 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 26.
The three others in the car included driver Buckmann, Zachary Fons, 18 and Tory Munson, 17.
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Tanski was in the rear passenger seat that suffered the most damage when the car hit the telephone pole.
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