Bennington County State’s Attorney Erica Marthage has asked state police to cite a Dorset man for causing the June 12 traffic death of film and television actor Richard Treat Williams of Manchester Center.

On Tuesday, Aug. 1 the prosecutor’s office requested that the Vermont State Police issue a citation on a charge of grossly negligent operation with death resulting to Ryan Koss, 35, of Dorset, who was driving the Honda Element SUV that turned into the path of Mr. Williams’ motorcycle. 

The crash occurred at about 4:53 p.m. Monday, June 12 on Vermont Route 30 just north of Morse Hill Road when a southbound 2008 Honda Element driven by Koss, 35, a local theater director, attempted to turn left into a parking lot. Police say the Element stopped, signaled a left turn, and then turned into the path of a northbound 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle operated by Williams. Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle.

Williams suffered critical injuries in the crash and subsequently was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York. The Medical Examiner’s Office in New York determined that Mr. Williams died of severe trauma and blood loss as a result of the crash.

 The Vermont State Police contacted Koss on Tuesday evening, August 1. He voluntarily met with troopers at the Shaftsbury Barracks, where he was processed on the charge and released. He is due to appear for arraignment at 8:15 a.m. Sept. 25, 2023, in Vermont Superior Court in Bennington.

Williams was an American actor, author, writer, and aviator who appeared on film, stage, and television, his Wikipedia bio says. He had over 120 credits to his name. He first became well known for his starring roles in two 1979 films, the musical Hair and Steven Spielberg’s 1941. He later starred in the films The Eagle Has Landed, Prince of the City, Once Upon a Time in America, The Late Shift, and 127 Hours.

From 2002 to 2006, he was the lead of the television series Everwood and was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, two Satellite Awards, and an Independent Spirit Award. Williams lived in Park City, Utah, and Manchester Center, with his wife, Pam Van Sant, and two children, Gille and Ellie. He was a licensed pilot and flight instructor who often flew his family to and from their homes.

Koss is listed as the managing Creative Director of the Dorset Theater Festival.