Today, a Manhattan Supreme Court trial jury found IAN CLEMENT, 63, not guilty on a charge of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting – Resulting In Death for a fatal vehicular crash with a cyclist on July 2, 2011.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. said: “We respect the jury’s verdict. However, far too many cyclists and pedestrians are killed in crashes with motorists each year, in every borough of our city. Often times these deaths are not crimes, but they are of grave concern to this Office, as they forever change the lives of victims, their families, and the drivers involved. We will continue to file charges where we believe the evidence merits them, and do everything we can as an office to make our streets safer for everyone.”

The Manhattan District Attorney investigates all fatal motor vehicle crashes. The Office has filed charges under the Vehicle and Traffic Law (“VTL”) §600.1 and §600.2, leaving the scene of an incident, 127 times so far this year, a significant increase from previous years. Of those cases, 33 involved serious injury or death. As part of a continuing effort to educate Assistant District Attorneys from throughout the region, the Manhattan DA’s Office hosts trainings in vehicular crimes and investigations. 45 ADAs from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office participated in a training last year and more than 60 ADAs from the five boroughs, Long Island and Westchester will receive specialized training this fall.

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