A man accused of fatally striking Hollywood actor Treat Williams in a car crash this spring has pleaded not guilty.
Ryan Koss, 35, of Dorset, entered his plea to a charge of grossly negligent vehicle operation resulting in death during an appearance in Vermont Superior Court on Monday. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and $15,000 in fines.
The crash happened along Vermont Route 30 in Dorset shortly before 5 p.m. on June 12. Vermont State Police said Koss, who was driving a 2008 Honda Element SUV, was making a left-hand turn into an auto repair shop when he struck a 1986 Honda Shadow 700 motorcycle that Williams was riding.
Williams, 71, of Manchester Center, was thrown from the motorcycle and hit the SUV’s windshield, police said in a statement of probable cause for the charge that was unsealed only after Koss’ arraignment Monday morning. The actor was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in New York, where he was pronounced dead. Koss sustained minor injuries.
According to police, the primary reason for the crash was that Koss failed to yield to oncoming traffic that had the right of way — a violation of Vermont law.
Koss told investigators he did not see Williams approaching from the opposite direction, the affidavit shows. Police said substance use was not a factor in the crash, and witnesses said neither vehicle appeared to be speeding.
The presiding judge, Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady of Bennington Superior criminal court, allowed Koss to remain free in the community while awaiting trial. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Koss, managing creative director of the Dorset Theatre Festival, previously told the Bennington Banner that facts will show he obeyed all relevant traffic laws and that the state’s charges are unwarranted.
Koss said he was “devastated” by the death of Treat, a fellow member of the local community whom he considered “a friend,” according to a statement the newspaper said his defense attorney, Ian Carleton, released.
Williams, whose acting career spanned nearly 50 years, was best known for his starring roles in “Everwood” and “Hair.” He had more than 120 credits to his name and was nominated for several acting awards for his film and TV roles.
