NEW ORLEANS — The man accused of driving into a pack of cyclists, killing two and injuring several others on Esplanade Avenue during the height of Carnival season is seeking to have his bond reduced.
Tashonty Toney is being held in prison on a $510,000 bond.
The incident on the night of the Endymion parade and several blocks from the parade route, left 27-year-old Sharree Walls and 31-year-old David Hynes dead. Several others suffered serious injuries.
"There is no danger to any other person or the community posed by the defendant's release," said the request. The document from Toney's attorney goes on to say that if there were concern over Toney driving, a bond could be fixed with conditions that there be no driving by him.
Court documents state that Toney cannot afford the amount of his bond and his attorneys are seeking to have the fatal crash treated as a single incident instead of two charges of vehicular homicide and 11 charges of vehicular negligent injuring.
“This amount may still likely be more than the defendant could make, but it is certainly more than enough to secure his attendance at all court proceedings,” said the request.
The document also lists as factors that Toney has family in the area, has no previous criminal record and is not a flight risk.