Driver pleads guilty in death of motorcyclist

A Havelock woman pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in connection with an April 27 crash that killed a Jacksonville motorcyclist.

Kristina Lynn Brant, 23, made the plea before Judge Paul Quinn in Craven County District Court, said Scott Thomas, district attorney for Craven, Carteret and Pamlico counties.

She was sentenced to 45 days in jail, but the sentence was suspended, assuming she does not violate the terms of her sentence in the next three years. Brant was ordered to pay court costs.

Additionally, Brant was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service working for an organization that promotes motorcycle safety and awareness and was ordered to place two bumper stickers provided by the victim’s family that promote motorcycle awareness on her vehicle. Brant also lost her license to drive for 12 months.

The crash occurred about 3 p.m. on April 27. Brant was pulling her Ford Expedition out of a service road and attempting to cross the westbound lane of U.S. 70 in front of Havelock Building Supply when she pulled out into the path of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

James Herbert Belcher, 53, of Jacksonville, the driver of motorcycle, died at the scene. Belcher’s passenger, Sylvia Lynn Hicks, 44, of Hubert, was severely injured and was airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

Brant and her two passengers were not injured.

Belcher left a skid mark about 150 feet long before hitting the driver’s side Brant’s vehicle. The wreck caused major delays to rush-hour traffic.