A Canton man who was driving nearly 100 mph when he struck and killed a 51-year-old cyclist on Sugar Pike Road has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Lane William Keyes, 43, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to homicide by vehicle, DUI, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, and an open container charge in connection with the October 19, 2025, crash that killed Carlos Moreno Gutierrez.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, vehicle camera evidence documented Keyes driving a 2023 Rivian R1T truck at 99 mph on Hickory Flat Highway near Earney Road and 93 mph on Sugar Pike Road near a cemetery before he crossed the center line and struck Moreno Gutierrez. Keyes then hit a fence, trees, and a retaining wall. He registered a .115 blood alcohol level and tested positive for THC, the station reported.
The Electrek article cited above concerns an unrelated Colorado case involving a Rivian owner's Road Cam footage, not the Moreno Gutierrez crash.
Maximum Sentence Sought, But Judge Splits the Difference
Cherokee County Superior Court Judge Tony Baker ultimately sentenced Keyes to 10 years in prison, though prosecutors had pushed for far more. Assistant District Attorney Pete Lamb said the state sought the maximum allowable 15-year prison sentence, per the same FOX 5 Atlanta account, arguing that the crash resulted from Keyes's conscious choices to drive while impaired. Under Georgia Code § 40-6-393(a), first-degree homicide by vehicle carries a mandatory statutory term of 3 to 15 years for deaths resulting from DUI or reckless driving, according to Justia Law, which made Lamb's request the ceiling allowed under state law.
Beyond the prison term, Keyes must complete 300 hours of community service, finish substance abuse treatment, pay $14,870 in restitution, and avoid all contact with Moreno Gutierrez's family, the outlet reported. Officials have not confirmed when Keyes will begin serving his sentence or when restitution payments will start. District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway's office and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office provided the investigation details and court proceedings referenced in the case.
A Father, Cyclist and Designer Remembered
Moreno Gutierrez was a cyclist. An obituary for him is available on Legacy.com. The medical examiner determined he died from generalized blunt force trauma.
Moreno Gutierrez was a cyclist. A Facebook post from 11Alive reported that an alleged drunk driver crashed into him. The article also linked to Hoodline.
A Statewide Pattern of Risk for Cyclists
The case unfolded against the backdrop of Georgia traffic-safety information published by the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
The crash occurred on Sugar Pike Road and Hickory Flat Highway. The Keyes case was on hold in May 2026, according to a post from the Webb Bridge Cycling Club.
