Alleged drunk driver expected to go on trial for fatal motorcycle crash

CATSKILL―An alleged drunk driver who struck a motorcycle on State Route 23, causing fatal injuries to the operator of the bike, is expected to go to trial.

Derik Wirhouski, 51, of Cairo is charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter and first-degree vehicular assault, both felonies, as well as reckless driving, a misdemeanor, and driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.

The charges stem from a September 10, 2024, crash when Wirhouski allegedly failed to obey the stop sign at Five Mile Woods Road in Catskill and drove his 2000 Subaru Impreza into a Harley Davidson that was westbound on State Route 23.

The couple on the motorcycle, Craig Sutherland and his wife Charity Sutherland of Ontario, Canada, suffered critical injuries and each lost a leg. After six weeks in Albany Medical Center where he underwent more than 30 surgeries, Craig Sutherland passed away on October 24, 2024.

Wirhouski, who was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the crash, had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08percent, Greene County District Attorney Joseph Stanzione has said. In New York State, a BAC of 0.08 percent or above is considered intoxication.

Wirhouski, who was indicted by a grand jury in October of 2024, is currently free on bail that was set at $50,000 cash, $100,000 insured bond or $150,000 partially secured bond.

Pre-trial hearings in the case will be held on January 26 in Greene County Court. According to Stanzione, this is “to determine if there was probable cause to make the arrest, whether we had authority to a take a blood sample and whether any evidence can be suppressed.”

“It is a relatively standard but detailed hearing,” he said.“We do expect that this will go to trial.”

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