Winston-Salem man receives probation after jury convicts him of involuntary manslaughter

Before his trial, 43-year-old Ulizer Ruiz Silva pleaded guilty to driving while his license was revoked, said his attorney Joshua Simmons of Winston-Salem.

A court transcript shows that the jury deliberated for 28 minutes on August 14 before reaching its verdict during the two-day trial.

Judge Richard Gottlieb of Forsyth Superior Court gave Silva a suspended 90-day jail sentence and placed him on probation for one year, the Forsyth County District Attorney's Office said.

Court records show Carl Alreno Holland, 63, of Winston-Salem, died in the crash. Gottlieb ordered Silva to pay $5,500 in restitution to Cecil Holland Jr. for his brother's funeral expenses, according to another court record.

Gottlieb also ordered Silva to surrender his driver's license and not drive a vehicle for 12 months, prosecutors said.

Silva did not testify in his defense during the trial, Simmons said.

On April 30, 2022, at 5:16 p.m., Winston-Salem police responded to a traffic crash at the intersection of North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and the ramp to US 52 North, police said.

Holland was driving a motorcycle east on MLK Drive and Silva was driving an SUV with a trailer west on MLK Drive, prosecutors said at the time, police said.

As Holland's motorcycle entered the intersection, Silva's vehicle turned left onto the highway ramp and collided with Holland's motorcycle, prosecutors said.

As a result, Holland suffered serious injuries after being thrown from his motorcycle, police said. Forsyth County paramedics attempted to perform life-saving measures, but Holland died at the scene.

Silva told police he was talking to his passenger as Silva's vehicle entered the intersection and he did not see Holland's motorcycle, prosecutors said.

Investigators concluded that Silva caused the accident because he failed to yield to Holland, prosecutors said.

A court record shows that witnesses told police that Holland drove through the intersection on a green light.

According to a police accident report, Silva's vehicle was traveling at 27 km/h when it collided with Holland's motorcycle, which was traveling at 72 km/h.

Cecil Holland, 57, told Gottlieb at Silva's trial that the Holland family would never get over Carl Holland's death, prosecutors said.

District Attorney Jim O'Neill said in a statement that Holland's death was a “stark reminder of the dangers that distracted driving poses to everyone on our roads and highways.”

“We have a responsibility to drive carefully and attentively, no matter where or when we drive,” O'Neill said.