Hudson Valley Man Pleads Guilty in Fatality on Sprain Brook

A Hudson Valley man pled guilty for his role in a crash that killed a man in May of 2014.

In Westchester County Court, 26-year-old Clifford Perkins, of New City pled guilty to criminally negligent homicide, a class E Felony.

Officials say a year-long investigation determined that Perkins was speeding on his 2002 Yamaha motorcycle on the Sprain Brook Parkway on May 25, 2014, Perkins motorcycle hit a 2001 Mazda from behind.

The accident caused the Mazda driver to lose control of his vehicle and collide with a 2013 BMW motorcycle driven by 45-year-old Scott Phillips.

Phillips and Perkins were both ejected from their motorcycles. Both motorcycles burst into flames after the crash.

Perkins was critically injured. Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene. According to NJ.Com,  Phillips was a hip-hop artist who went by the name DJ Father Shaheed. He was a member of the Trenton hip-hop trio Poor Righteous Teachers.

An accident reconstruction by New York State Police determined that Perkin’s bike was traveling at a minimum of 82- 95 miles per hour. Witnesses told investigators around 12 motorcycles were seen at speeds around 100 miles per hour.

Police say Phillips motorcycle was traveling around 60 miles per hour at the time of the fatal crash.

At the time of the collision, Perkins possessed a revoked and suspended New York State License with a cancelled motorcycle endorsement.

Perkins is out on bail. He is due in court on June 1. He faces over a year to 4 years in prison.