Driver who fatally struck actor Treat Williams avoids jail, gets probation after pleading guilty to lesser charge
The driver involved in the vehicle crash that killed āEverwoodā actor Treat Wišlliams as he rode his motorcāycle in Vermont last summer plešaded guilty to a reduced charge of negligent driving on Friday.
Ryan Koss, 35, received just a one-year deferred sentence and probation for the misdemeanorš charge. His driverās license has also been revš¶oked for one year and he must complete a community restorative justice program as part of his probation.
During the sentencing hearing on Friday, Koss, who knew Willš¼iams and considered him a friend, became overwhelmed with emotion while apologizing to the actorās friends, family and fans.
“Iām here to apologize and take responsibility for this tragic accident,” Koss told the court.
Koss was turning left into a parking lot in a Honda SUV in Dorset on June 12 whź¦en he collided head-on with Williamsā motorcycle, police said.Ā
Williams, 71, of Manchester Center, who was wearing a helmet, suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, but could not be saved.
Immediately after the crash, Koss called Williamsā wife to tell her what had justā happened, Bennington County Stateās Attorney Erica Marthage said.
Williamsā son Gilź¦l, 32, wore his fatherās jacket and spoke directly to Koss, whom he had met before the crash. The family did not want to press charges or have Koss go toš prison, he said.
āI do forgive you, and Iā± hope that you forgive yourself,ā he said.
āI really wish you hadnāt killed my father,ā he added.š āI really hadš¤” to say that.ā
Williamsā daughter, Ellie Williams, wrote in her statemą²ent that she was too angry to forgivš e Koss ā but hoped she would be able to in the future.
āI will never get to feel my fatherās hug again; be able to get his advice again, introduce him to my future huź§sband, have him walk me ź¦down the aisle, introduce him to my babies, and have him cry when I name my first son after him,ā she wrote.
KšÆoss had initially pleaded not āØguilty to a felony charge of gross negligent operation with death resulting. If he had been convicted of that charge, he could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
Williamsā nearly 50-year career included starring roles in the TV series āEverwoodā and the movie āHair.ā He appeared in more than 120 TV and film roles, including the movies āThe Eaglź¦e Has Landed,ā āPrince of the Cityā and āOnce Upon a Time in America.ā
This week, āBlue Bloodsā bid an emotional farewell to Williams, š»who played Lenny Ross on š®the popular CBS series.
With Post wires