More than a year ago, in June 2021, Brian Boyd, 27, was riding his electric scooter on a NYC street, and recklessly hit, knocked over, and killed a popular actress, Lisa Banes. Instead of stopping and attending to her, he fled the scene.
On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and faces a sentence of up to three years in prison. He will be sentenced on November 30.
Lisa Banes is known for portraying the character Mary Beth in David Fincher’s award-winning film “Gone Girl,” and Lucy Hendrix in “Murder, She Wrote.” She was hit by Boyd’s scooter near the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street. Paramedics and police found her on the ground with severe head injuries.
Banes was hospitalized at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, and was said to have suffered a severe, traumatic brain injury, that caused her death. On July 14, 2021, just a week after the hit-and-run, she passed away at the age of 65.
Boyd quickly fled the scene after the accident and did not report the accident. Police launched an investigation to find the driver of the electric vehicle.
Brian Boyd was found and arrested in August 2021, and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident which resulted in Lisa’s death, and failure to leave space for pedestrians. He was arraigned in court on August 6, 2021, and remained in police custody until his hearing.
Boyd pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree and fleeing the crime scene, failing to report it to police.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office wanted three to nine years imprisonment for Boyd, but the judge recommended a less severe sentence.
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, said in a statement that Boyd drove recklessly with little or no regard for pedestrians, fatally hitting the beloved actress and New Yorker, and then speeding away to escape accountability. Bragg consoled Lisa’s family, friends, and fans who watched her throughout her acting career, which spanned decades.
Banes was a Juilliard-trained actress who appeared in several Broadway productions, including, “Accent on Youth,” “High Society,” “Present Laughter,” and “Rumors.” She also starred in films, including “Combustion,” “Gone Girl,” “Look Back in Anger,” “Cocktail,” “A Killer Among Us,” and “Close Encounter.” Lisa had recurring roles in television shows: “Nashville,” “Six Feet Under,” “Royal Pains,” “Legacy,” and “The Orville,” among others.
