He fled after hitting a pedestrian on Highway 17. Here is how long he will go to prison
A man who fled after hitting and killing a pedestrian will spend years in prison after admitting to the crime.
Nicolas Xanthos, 49, pleaded guilty to hit-and-run with death during a Tuesday hearing in Horry County. Judge Robert Hood sentenced Xanthos to five years in prison.
Xanthos was driving on U.S. Highway 17 in June 2018 when he hit Rikkel Collins, 38. It took police three days to find Collins’ remains, said Catherine Owens, an assistant solicitor in Horry County.
Collins’ family was at the hearing, but declined to speak.
“They do want him punished,” Owens said. “This has affected their life greatly.”
The state asked the judge to sentence Xanthos to five to 10 years in prison. The maximum sentence was 25 years.
Xanthos is originally from New York and was in the Myrtle Beach area for vacation. It was around 2:30 a.m. and dark as Xanthos drove, he said, and he tried to swerve to avoid a dog. His tires went off the road, and he said he thought he clipped a deer.
“I had no idea that happened. None at all,” Xanthos said.
Xanthos said he didn’t stop because he didn’t want to see a hurt deer. The assistant solicitor said Collins’ head hit the windshield. The impact left a hole in the glass, along with some of her hair.
“I am sorry. Sorry that happened,” Xanthos said, calling the incident a tragic accident. “I had no idea that happened. I can’t take it back.”
The defense asked that Xanthos be sentenced to probation in New York, but Hood rejected that request.
This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 11:04 AM.
