Man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter almost a year after crash
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announced that a man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter following a deadly crash that occurred nearly a year ago.
Details of the Incident
On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, near Sherry Lane, a motorcycle was cut off by a Nissan Altima driven by 21-year-old Jonathan Dylan Ray, resulting in the motorcyclist, Cody-Lee Martin Lewis, colliding with the car and being fatally ejected into a guardrail. Eyewitnesses reported that Ray swerved in an attempt to prevent the motorcycle from passing.
Admission and Charges
Jonathan Dylan Ray admitted to law enforcement that he was angry with the cyclist and intentionally tried to prevent him from passing. Initially charged with reckless driving, aggressive driving, and involuntary manslaughter, Ray cooperated with the investigation.
Sentence
On Monday, April 22, 2024, Ray received a sentence of 180 days in custody, $7,392 in restitution, and supervised probation for 48 months with a suspended sentence of 16 to 29 months after serving the initial 180 days. Ray, with no prior criminal record, was also ordered to surrender his driver’s license and refrain from driving for twelve months.
Conclusion
