BEAUMONT, Texas — A Sour Lake man accepted a plea deal and will spend 10 years in prison after being accused of hitting and killing a motorcyclist on US 90 before fleeing the scene in 2021.
Brittian Doyle Kerr appeared before Judge John Stevens Monday afternoon to plea.
Kerr's trial was set to start on a charge of second-degree accident involving injury, but he decided to accept the plea deal rather than go to trial.
He could have faced from two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 if found guilty. The plea deal he accepted is for 10 years in prison.
The crash happened on September 7, 2021, at the intersection of Main Lane on U.S. 90 Highway in Beaumont.
DPS said a motorcyclist was traveling east on the highway on a 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and a 2017 Mazda passenger car was traveling north on Main Lane.
Initially, investigators believed a woman was the driver and Kerr was the passenger. As the investigation continued, DPS learned Kerr was the driver.
"Responsible people sometimes don't have the courage to face the responsibility," said Judge Stevens. "...to cowardly walk away from it and hide is a terrible thing."
Judge Stevens did not say the woman's name who was originally charged.
"This whole sordid mess that started with a woman being charged and then later it turned into you who was apparently the actual person who was responsible for this," Judge Stevens said to Kerr in court.
Investigators believe Kerr failed to yield right of way from a stop sign and collided with the motorcyclist, DPS says. He's also accused of failing to remain at the scene of the crash. Troopers found the driver of the Mazda a short time later, DPS says.
The driver of the motorcycle, identified as Kenneth Weaver, 74, of China, was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont for treatment. He later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.
"I believe people make mistakes, and they fix their mistakes. And they try to fix their mistakes. But unfortunately, some mistakes cannot be fixed. We haven't been able to bring somebody back to life, especially some wonderful people who we've had to deal with their loss," Judge Stevens said in court.
Judge Stevens said that Weaver was a public servant, who was true to his oath.
Kerr and the other passenger were not injured during the crash, according to DPS.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.