STATEN ISLAND — The driver whose boat detached from his SUV and killed a cyclist on Hylan Boulevard pleaded guilty on Wednesday, prosecutors said.
Michael Khmil, 42, will spend 60 days behind bars after he pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide for the death of cyclist Alexa Cioffi, 21, who was riding on Hylan Boulevard, the Staten Island District Attorney's office said.
Cioffi and a 22-year-old woman were riding in the right lane of Hylan Boulevard on Sept. 14, 2015 when Khmil, who was driving a 2015 Toyota with the boat in tow, overtook them near Redgrave Avenue, police said.
As he changed lanes, the trailer carrying the boat detached and struck the 22-year-old woman, police said. The boat then struck Cioffi and pinned her underneath.
Both women were taken to Staten Island University Hospital North where Cioffi died.
Khmil remained on scene but wasn't charged until he was hit with a four-count indictment in May 2016.
Prosecutors said Khmil never should have attached the boat to his vehicle because it had a maximum capacity of 3,000 pounds but the boat was more than 4,000 pounds.
He also failed to secure the boat onto the trailer with chains and didn't install a breaking system, according to his indictment.
Khmil will be sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation for the crime on Nov. 8, prosecutors said.
