By ANDREW HUGHES
A city traffic agent was charged on Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court with multiple felony accounts in the death of 21-year-old Lafayette College student, whose body was severed in half at impact in an accident on the Williamsburg Bridge while the defendant allegedly was driving drunk
Stefan Hoyte, 26, was behind the wheel of his 2013 Infiniti G37 on March 16th when he slammed into a divider, killing Amanda Miner, who was celebrating her 21st birthday. Another off-duty traffic agent Michael Camacho, 24, was in the passenger seat but only received minor injuries.
Judge Melissa Jackson read the charges to Hoyte, who pleaded not guilty and was expected to face a trial later this month. The Brooklyn resident faces charges of vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and criminal negligent homicide.
Police reports show that Hoyte’s blood alcohol content was above the legal limit at .103, which is higher than the .08 allowed under federal law. The toxicology report had not yet released to the court.
Hoyte’s defense attorney claimed he was not intoxicated.
“There is a substantial amount of evidence that this was an accident,” said Hoyte’s attorney Scott Cerbin. “This was the result of weather conditions and the driver losing control.”
Superstorm Stella hit the New York City area just two days earlier but Hoyte admitted to having two drinks at a bar to officers at the scene. Hoyte’s eyes were reportedly watery as well.
“The defendant’s BAC was over the legal limit,” said the prosecutor’s attorney. “He shouldn’t have been behind the wheel of a car and his actions cost Amanda Miner her life.”
The crash was notoriously gruesome. Photos of Hoyte’s 2013 Infiniti crushed in half circulated online. Miner was ejected from the vehicle and her body was also mangled in the accident. Passersby caught video that showed debris from the wreck all over the highway with the front half of the car seen in the middle lanes.
Hoyte had a calmer demeanor than his last appearance on March 21st when he was seen visibly laughing. His relatives once again were present to support him but were not closely following him, as they were last time, to cover his smiles. Miner’s family were also present.
It is unclear whether the jury will believe Hoyte’s claims that he was sober. Regardless, he was driving 15-25 miles over the speed limit and will likely be charged with at least one criminal offense.
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