Motorcyclist Who Killed Fiancée in Amagansett Crash To Face Judge

Matthew Byank, whose pregnant 19-year-old fiancée Lauren M. Parris died when he crashed his motorcycle in Amagansett two years ago while fleeing from police, will be sentenced on a manslaughter charge in Suffolk County Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Byank, now 21 and living in Mastic, with the court in May. In exchange, Judge Randall C. Hinrichs promised him a cap term of 3 to 9 years in prison, and no less than 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office recommended 4 to 12 years. Negotiated pleas are not deals with the DA's office, but rather with the court.

Byank is free on bail.

Parris, who was also from Mastic, had only just found out she was pregnant when she died on May 24, 2010.

She and Byank, then 19, took a ride on his sport bike, with friends, to Montauk and were headed back when an East Hampton Town police officer tried to pull them over for speeding at 60 mph in a 30 mph zone.

When Byank pleaded guilty on May 9, he admitted to speeding as fast as 80 mph in a 55 mph zone on Montauk Highway, weaving in and out of traffic on a double-yellow line, between Montauk and Amagansett, eventually losing control of the vehicle and hitting a pole. Parris was pronounced dead at Southampton Hospital.

He also admitted to driving with a suspended license and only a permit to drive the motorcycle, which was also not inspected.

He was arrested the night of the crash and charged with unlawfully fleeing a police officer in the first degree, a felony, and driving with a suspended license. At the time of the crash. Byank reportedly had a bench warrant for his arrest related to unanswered traffic violations in Suffolk County First District Court. Records show he had been ticketed four times by county police for driving with a suspended license between January 19 and April 26, 2010. He was considered a persistent violator.

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