FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Vernon, CT) – Matthew C. Gedansky, Tolland State’s Attorney, announced today that Spencer Kraus was sentenced on February 23, 2023 to a 20-year sentence, execution suspended after 11 years, with five years of probation for causing the death of Benjamin Lovett, 25, and injuring a passenger in a motorcycle crash in 2021.
Kraus, 26, of Ellington, failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Hunter Road and Crystal Lake Road in Tolland in the early morning hours of June 26, 2021, and crashed into a motorcycle being operated by the victim. Kraus attempted to flee the scene but, with the assistance of witnesses, Kraus was apprehended and detained. He exhibited signs that he was under the influence of alcohol, failed field sobriety tests and his blood alcohol level later measured .135 and .126.
Despite efforts by emergency medical personnel, and efforts later at Hartford Hospital, the victim died as a result of injuries he sustained in the crash. The passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries.
Kraus pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-56b, Assault in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-60d, and Evading Responsibility in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-224(a). He also pleaded guilty to another charge of Evading Responsibility for a separate incident.
With a courtroom packed with the victim’s friends and family, and after a lengthy sentencing hearing in which friends and the victim’s mother spoke about the impact of the tragedy, the Honorable Kathleen McNamara imposed the sentence in Rockville Superior Court.
The case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Gedansky.