Formal charges for man accused of dirt bike hit-and-run

Formal charges for man accused of dirt bike hit-and-run

An Albany County grand jury has indicted the man accused in the dirt bike hit-and-run that left a UAlbany student seriously injured. Austin Breyette of Watervliet is facing a four-count indictment.

New paperwork from Albany County Court shows Austin Breyette, 25, of Watervliet has been indicted on four counts.

The most serious charge is assault in the second degree.

There is also leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.

Breyette is accused of driving the dirt bike that slammed into UAlbany student Alexa Kropf, 19,on Hudson Avenue in Albany just before midnight April 26, leaving her with serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis. She had to have brain surgeries.

The two friends she was with that night said that after the biker hit her, as they rushed to help, he gave them the finger and took off.

The suspect appeared in Albany City Court last Friday in front of Judge Joshua Farrell.

It was then that the prosecutor talked about some of the ways Breyette allegedly tried to cover up his tracks.

“Additionally, your honor, not only did the defendant leave the scene of the incident, the next day the defendant did load his dirt bike into the back of his truck, drove it down to Poughkeepsie. Your honor, I would note the defendant does have family ties in Poughkeepsie,” said Assistant District Attorney Taylor Cupp in court on Friday.

Two of the four counts in the new indictment are tampering with physical evidence, alleging he concealed a blue dirt bike the day after the crash at 44 First Street in Albany, and that he also hid the evidence of a motor vehicle described as a red Porsche at 1553 Third Avenue in Watervliet just last week on Wednesday, May 22. That address was also listed as Breyette’s home.

Prosecutors would not give details on the significance of that red Porsche.

Alexa has left Albany Med and moved to a rehab closer to her Long Island home.

There’s no arraignment date set yet for Breyette.

Breyette remains in jail, according to the Albany County sheriff.