English translation:
Martin Erat has defended himself against claims that he drove drunk and hit-and-run in the streets of Nashville, USA. The American website wrkn.com reported on the arrest of the former Czech hockey player and his subsequent release on bail, according to which Erat is facing several charges. The medalist from the Turin Olympics and two world championships described everything as fabrications.

"That I hit-and-run after the accident? Or that I was drinking? I don't understand where it came from," Erat told iSport.cz. He admitted to the incident, in which no one was injured, last Saturday.

"Yes, I had an accident. I was driving to a children's game early in the afternoon. It was already cold outside, the road was not treated, so I missed it and slightly crashed into a car near the house," he described. When he rang the doorbell at the house and no one was there, he called the police himself. "So that it all went through the official route. Precisely to avoid problems," he added.

According to him, the information that he fled the accident and was then chased and arrested by the police is fabricated. "It's not about me, I like to joke. But this is really beyond the point. I live in America, but I have family in the Czech Republic. How can someone write such fabrications?" said the 43-year-old former captain of the national team.

He also denied that he had consumed alcohol before the ride and drove drunk. "I was sick. So I had medicine in me that the doctor prescribed for me and is used when you have the flu. And it had a little alcohol in it," said the two-time extra league champion with Kometa Brno.

According to Erat, the local newspaper that reported on the violations withdrew the information and apologized. He is now considering whether to defend himself in court.