Murder Conviction In Fatal High-Speed Crash

LLOYD, NY — A Poughkeepsie man who was accused of killing a Lloyd woman in a crash after a high-speed police chase was convicted of murder. According to a press release from the Ulster County District Attorney's office, Ryan Williams, 29, of Poughkeepsie was convicted by a jury April 30 of second-degree murder, four counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, first-degree unlawful fleeing from a police officer, two counts of second-degree assault and first-degree aggravated operation of a motor vehicle, all felonies.

Williams' lawyer did not call any witnesses at the trial, nor did Williams testify on his own behalf, the district attorney's office said.

He will be scheduled for sentencing at a future date.

On July 1, Williams was traveling in excess of 100 mph on Route 299 in the Town of Lloyd. He struck and killed Danielle Pecoraro, 39, of Lloyd while she was driving east in a Ford 150 pickup truck, police said.

Pecoraro's daughter and a passenger in a vehicle following the pickup truck were seriously injured.

Moments before the crash, police received a 911 complaint of a man driving a Porsche Cayenne in an erratic manner on Route 9W.

Town of Lloyd police pulled Williams over as he turned from 9W onto Route 299.

As the officer approached his vehicle, witnesses saw Williams throw a glass object out of the driver's window and take off at a high rate of speed, police said.

Traveling at speeds in excess of 120 mph at times, and passing vehicles on the right shoulder, Williams approached the South Street intersection before losing control of his car, killing Pecoraro.

Authorities said the force of the impact literally tore the Porsche in half and crushed the pickup truck.

Williams' blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.33 percent, police said.

The district attorney's office said his prior criminal history included being sentenced to jail three times for convictions of fleeing from a police officer. His prior convictions were not allowed to be presented to the jury.

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