A Florida man, aged 35, is facing charges after allegedly striking and killing a cyclist while under the influence of alcohol. The force of the collision was so severe that the victim’s bicycle was lodged in the front of the suspect’s car. The accused, Thomas Vayianos, was arrested on Sunday and charged with driving under the influence-manslaughter with a vehicle causing death to a human. The victim was identified as Felipe Soares de Moraes, according to court documents.
The incident occurred on the morning of December 16, when deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were called to a fatal crash scene on North Ocean Boulevard and Highway A1A in Boca Raton, approximately 45 miles north of Miami. Upon arrival, first responders found Soares de Moraes lying face down on the highway’s shoulder.
The vehicle involved, a gray Chevy Equinox, was parked on the highway’s shoulder with a bicycle lodged in its front bumper. Vayianos, a resident of New Jersey, was found at the scene, sitting at the rear of the car.
A witness at the scene, who was also cycling at the time of the incident, told investigators that the gray Equinox had passed him so closely that he could have touched it. He observed the vehicle swerving into the marked bicycle lane multiple times before striking Soares de Moraes, who was thrown into the air before landing on the shoulder of the highway.
Investigators concluded that Vayianos had struck Soares de Moraes from behind, causing him to be thrown 65 feet and roll an additional 71 feet before coming to a stop. When questioned by investigators, Vayianos reportedly gave a series of strange responses, seeming to believe that the officers were hotel staff.
Vayianos was described as having pinpoint pupils and was unable to maintain steady balance without leaning on his car. He had difficulty answering basic questions and appeared to be under the impression that he was still at a hotel, unaware that he had just hit a cyclist.
After being read his Miranda rights, Vayianos allegedly admitted to taking multiple controlled substances after midnight. He also failed multiple field sobriety tests before being taken into custody and transported to Palm Beach County Jail. Vayianos is currently being held on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 14, 2025.