Thomas Vayianos (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
In Florida, a 35-year-old man faces accusations of driving under the influence and causing the death of a cyclist in a tragic incident. The authorities reported that Thomas Vayianos struck the cyclist so forcefully that the bicycle became stuck in the front of his car. Vayianos was apprehended and charged with driving under the influence-manslaughter with a vehicle causing death to a human in connection to the death of Felipe Soares de Moraes.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a fatal crash at around 7:42 a.m. on Dec. 16 in Boca Raton. The incident occurred in the 1400 block of North Ocean Boulevard and Highway A1A, not far from Miami. When they arrived at the scene, they discovered Soares de Moraes lying face down on the side of the highway. Vayianos, the driver allegedly involved in the collision, was present at the site and was seated at the back of the car.
The gray Chevy Equinox purportedly implicated in the tragedy had a bicycle visibly lodged in its front bumper. Vayianos, originally from New Jersey, had not fled the scene and cooperated with law enforcement. The details of the case were disclosed in court documents reviewed by Law&Crime.
A witness at the scene told investigators he was riding his bike at around 7:09 a.m. in the marked bicycle lane of the highway when the gray Equinox drove by him “so closely he could touch the vehicle.”
“As the vehicle passed, [the witness] observed the vehicle swerving within its lane entering the marked bicycle lane multiple times,” the affidavit states. “[The witness] could see [the victim] on his bicycle up ahead of him. [The witness] watched as the Equinox struck [the victim], sending him airborne where he came to final rest within the shoulder of A1A. [The witness] arrived on the scene shortly, thereafter, called 911, and watched as Thomas [Vayianos] exited the Equinox and stood outside the driver’s door.”
Investigators say they determined that Vayianos hit the victim from behind, resulting in Soares de Moraes “being thrown 65 feet and rolling/tumbling an additional 71 feet where he came to a final rest.”
When investigators spoke to Vayianos at the scene, he allegedly provided a series of bizarre responses to their questions and “seemed to be under the impression that the other officers on the scene including myself were ‘hotel people,’” the affiant wrote in the affidavit.
Police described Vayianos as having “pinpoint pupils,” saying he “would look through” officers trying to speak with him and was unable to stand steadily without leaning on his car.
Vayianos allegedly had to be asked basic questions multiple times because he either failed to answer the questions or would “go off-topic” on seemingly unrelated matters. Vayianos appeared to believe he was still at “the hotel” and was unaware he had just struck a cyclist.
“In speaking with [Vayianos], it became apparent that he had no clue he had struck anyone,” the affidavit states. “When I asked again if he remembered the crash, [Vayianos] began to explain an incident that occurred in Vermont where he ‘tapped someone.’”
After being read his Miranda rights, Vayianos allegedly explained that he had taken multiple controlled substances “last night after midnight” and was under the impression that it was 10:30 a.m., which was the time he was supposed to check out of his hotel.
Vayianos then failed multiple field sobriety tests before being taken into custody and transported to Palm Beach County Jail, police said. He is currently being held on $150,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 14, 2025.
