Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced that Amanda Lyons (age 28) with a last known address of 63 Isle of Capri Road, Coventry, pled nolo contendere today before Superior Court Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg to DUI death resulting, driving to endanger death resulting and possession of a controlled substance. Under the terms of the plea agreement, which was reached with the approval of the victim's family, Lyons was sentenced to a total of 15 years with five years to serve and the remainder suspend with probation. In addition, Lyons was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, must undergo substance abuse counseling, and received a five year loss of license upon release from the ACI.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on November 23, 2013, Lyons was operating a motor vehicle travelling Northbound on Route 1 in South Kingstown. Lyons lost control of the vehicle and struck a light pole at the intersection of Route 1 and South County Commons ejecting her passenger, John Balzano, through the back windshield. Balzano was sleeping in the back seat at the time of the crash. Balzano died as a result of his injuries sustained in the crash. Lyons was found to have morphine, a controlled substance, in her possession after her arrest.
"A young man's life was lost in an instant and a family's grief will last a lifetime because Amanda Lyons got behind the wheel of her motor vehicle under the influence. This death – and all those cause by drunk driving – are avoidable if people take a moment to consider the irrevocable destruction that inevitably results from driving drunk," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.
The date for the execution of sentence will be determined by the Courts at a later date.
The South Kingstown Police Department led the investigation. Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Rhode Island.