Treat Williams was alert and spoke to paramedics before he died
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I saw him go flying through the air.’ Rattled eyewitness reveals Treat Williams, 71, was alert and speaking to paramedics after being thrown from his motorcycle, as driver of Honda in deadly collision is pictured for the first time
- Treat Williams died on Monday in a motorcycle crash in Vermont at the age of 71
- Witness Matt Rapphahn, told DailyMail.com that the actor was ‘totally alert, answering questions’ as he laid on the pavement
- Ryan Koss, 35, was driving his Honda Element SUV on Route 30 and was turning into the auto shop parking lot when he collided with Williams
Actor Treat Williams was conscious and alert after being thrown from his motorcycle, answering questions from paramedics as he was sprawled out on the pavement, DailyMail.com can reveal.
‘He was totally alert, answering questions,’ said Matt Rapphahn, the owner of Long Trail Auto on Route 30, adjacent to the crash site.
Matt, 29, was standing outside his shop when the crash took place right in front of him.
Ryan Koss, who DailyMail.com is picturing for the first time, was driving his Honda Element SUV on Route 30, turning into the auto shop parking lot when he collided with the motorcycle.
‘I saw Treat go flying through the air,’ Matt said.
Williams, wearing a helmet, was left sprawled out on the pavement a few feet from his motorcycle.
‘The tire was still spinning,’ he added.
The Golden Globe-nominated actor, 71, was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries before being pronounced dead on Monday in Vermont.
Treat Williams died on Monday in a motorcycle crash in Vermont at the age of 71
Pictured for the first time: Ryan Koss, 35, was driving his Honda Element SUV on Route 30 and was turning into the auto shop parking lot when he collided with Williams
Koss had an appointment at the autobody shop to bring his SUV to get a state inspection sticker
Williams and Koss actually knew each other, as Koss works at the theater where Williams once performed American Buffalo
Koss works at the Dorset Playhouse Theater in Dorset, Vermont
Reports released by Vermont State Police revealed that Williams didn’t stand a chance as the Honda cut across the northbound lane of the V-30 into his $3,500 bike.
Koss, 35, attempted to turn left onto Morse Hill Road into a parking lot and came to a stop as he indicated at around 4:53pm.
He was ‘checked by medical personnel at the scene for minor injuries’ but was not taken to a hospital and has not been arrested by officers.
Koss was not intoxicated, cops say, as they probe who was responsible for the fatal incident.
Williams and Koss in all likelihood knew each other, as Koss works at the theater where Williams performed American Buffalo 2017.
The police report states that ‘Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle.’
Data collected by the Vermont Agency of Transportation revealed that there have been five incidents on that stretch of road in 12 years, with three resulting in injury but only Williams being pronounced dead.
Koss’ car had major damage to the front end passenger side, while William’s 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle had ‘front-end damage’.
Shop owner Matt pointed out that Koss had an appointment to bring his SUV to his shop to get a state inspection sticker, and that Koss’ husband had pulled into the lot in another car to pick him up.
Williams – who was wearing a helmet – ‘suffered critical injuries’ and was taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center in New York where he was pronounced dead.
Crash witness Matt Rapphahn told DailyMail.com that the actor was ‘totally alert, answering questions’ as he laid on the pavement. Matt, 29, was standing outside his shop when the crash took place right in front of him
Williams’ 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle is pictured. After the crash the motorcycle had ‘front-end damage’
Williams, wearing a helmet, was left sprawled out on the pavement, a few feet from his motorcycle. The scene of the crash is pictured
Reports released by Vermont State Police revealed that Williams didn’t stand a chance as the 2008 Honda Element cut across the northbound lane of the V-30 into his bike
Immediately after the crash, a crowd gathered around offering help, including a nurse who lives in a house next door. Matt directed traffic until emergency crews arrived.
‘He was totally laid out, and they were asking him basic questions, like ”do you know where you are,” and ”what’s your wife’s name,” that kind of stuff,’ Matt recalled. ‘And he was responsive. He seemed like he was awake the whole time because, obviously, when they had to move him, you could see he was in a great deal of pain. They loaded him up into the ambulance and drove off.’
‘Honestly, I was pretty hopeful that he was going to pull through,’ Matt said.
He said Williams was a regular customer – a classic car and motorcycle enthusiast who’d bring his vehicles in for repairs and restoration work.
‘He stopped into the shop just a few weeks ago and made some appointments for his vehicles,’ Matt said. ‘He pulled up here in his old Apache pickup truck, a blue ’57 Chevy. We were talking about actors going on strike right now, and he seemed kind of grumpy about it. He wanted to get back to work acting.’
‘We talked about airplanes too because he was an airplane enthusiast,’ he added.
‘I’d run into him in town all the time,’ he said. ‘He’d share some stories. He had such a good laugh. He was a great guy, super nice. This was his home. This was his community.’
He said Williams was also exceptionally generous and once wrote a check to repair the home of one of Matt’s mechanic friends after a fire.
‘People around here have been using that old cliché all day – that for somebody who is Hollywood famous, he was totally chill,’ he said.
Williams, a longtime resident of Manchester, Vermont, was also friends with actor Alec Baldwin and, according to people in the community, was instrumental in convincing Baldwin to move to the area.
Last year Baldwin purchased an old farmhouse in Arlington, just 20 minutes from Williams’ home.
Williams’ family said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Treat Williams has passed away tonight in Dorset, Vermont after a fatal motorcycle accident. ‘ He’s pictured with his wife Pam Van Sant
Treat Williams with his wife Pam Van Sant had his two kids Gille and Ellie
Matt said Williams was a regular customer at his shop and was a classic car and motorcycle enthusiast who’d bring his vehicles in for repairs and restoration work
On the street is now markings of where the accident happened and where Williams body laid on the road
Daughter Ellie posted a photo of her parents on her Instagram with the message, ‘This is a pain I have never felt. I am absolutely shattered’
He was married to actress Pam Van Sant, and together they had two children, Gille and Ellie – and often shared photos of his idyllic country life with his fans on social media. Pictured is his $1million Vermont home
The actor, best known for his roles in Everwood and Hair, was enjoying his weekend mowing the lawn at his $1million Vermont home just hours before the tragedy.
He was married to actress Pam Van Sant, and together they had two children, Gille and Ellie – and often shared photos of his idyllic country life with his fans on social media.
Daughter Ellie posted a photo of her parents on her Instagram with the message, ‘This is a pain I have never felt. I am absolutely shattered.’
Williams’ family said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Treat Williams has passed away tonight in Dorset, Vermont after a fatal motorcycle accident.
‘As you can imagine, we are shocked and greatly bereaved at this time. Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it.
‘It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him.
‘We are beyond devastated and ask that you respect our privacy as we deal with our grief. To all his fans, please know that Treat appreciated all of you and please continue to keep him in your hearts and prayers.’
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