A Vermont man has pleaded guilty in Bennington, Vermont, to a reduced charge in the June 12, 2023 crash that killed actor Treat Williams.
Ryan Koss, age 35, agreed to a plea of negligent driving with death resulting. He was given a one-year deferred sentence and will have his driving license revoked for a year. He must also complete a community restorative justice program on the misdemeanor charge.
Koss, who knew Williams, was turning left into a parking lot in a Honda SUV on June 12. He failed to see Williams’ oncoming motorcycle, resulting in a collision.
Williams, age 71, was wearing a helmet, but suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
After the crash, Koss called Williams’ wife to tell her what happened. Bennington County State’s Attorney Erica Marthage said Koss from the beginning has taken responsibility for the accident.
In the hearing on Friday, Koss apologized and offered condolences to Williams’ family and fans.
“I’m here to apologize and take responsibility for this tragic accident,” he told the court.
Williams’ son Gill, 32, spoke directly to Koss, who he had met before the crash. The family did not want to press charges or have Koss go to prison, he said.
“I do forgive you, and I hope that you forgive yourself,” he said. But he also added that “I really wish you hadn’t killed my father. I really had to say that.”
Gill Williams said his father was “everything” to their family and an extraordinary person who lived life to the fullest, and it’s now hard to figure out how to go forward.
His father had given him the motorcycle the day before the crash, and he was “the safest person in the world,” Gill Williams said.
Pam Williams said in her statement that it was a tragic accident and that she hopes Koss can forgive himself.
“Our lives will never be the same, our family has been torn apart and there is a huge hole that can’t possibly be filled,” Pam Williams wrote in her statement.
Koss originally pleaded not guilty 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.
Williams was honored last week by his TV show, Blue Bloods. He had a nearly 50-year career in more than 120 TV and film roles.
