A former Mass State Police trooper accused of leaning over to kiss his girlfriend while driving on I-93, swerving and causing a crash that killed a motorcyclist has pleaded guilty.

Kristopher Carr, 29, has pleaded guilty to motor vehicle homicide in the 2021 crash that killed 51-year-old Winthrop man Christopher Zike.

Carr was sentenced to 2.5 years in the House of Correction, with 18 months to serve and the balance suspended for three years.

The judge also ordered a substance abuse evaluation and any necessary follow-up treatment. Under state law, Carr’s driver’s license will be suspended for 15 years.

Back on Oct. 29, 2021, State Police received a 911 call at around 1:25 a.m., for a crash on I-93 south in Boston.

An SUV and motorcycle had crashed. Responding troopers found Carr, the driver of the SUV, rendering aid to the motorcyclist, later identified as Zike.

Zike was pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center. Carr and his girlfriend were treated for minor injuries at Mass General Hospital.

Carr, an off-duty state trooper at the time of the crash, had been driving the SUV with his girlfriend in the front passenger seat.

“He leaned over to kiss his girlfriend, swerved and struck the median barrier, disabling the SUV in the leftmost two lanes of the highway,” the Suffolk DA’s office wrote. “Zike, who was driving to a 2 a.m. shift at Ikea in Stoughton, crashed into the SUV and was thrown from his motorcycle.”

Witness statements and video from several establishments confirmed that Carr consumed numerous alcoholic beverages that night.

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Zike’s brother in court described him as “a good person” and “fun,” who had a great relationship with the brother’s daughter, Zike’s niece.

The brother said Zike was “interested and invested in his community in Winthrop,” and that he planted a garden at the Winthrop Senior Center and was interested in the repurposing of school and park land.

“We were reminded in a most tragic way today how a few extremely bad decisions ended one life and impacted so many others,” said Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden. “Christopher Zike’s life will be remembered and mourned by his family and friends while Kristopher Carr’s life will take a vastly different path than he likely intended, all due to his decisions and actions that night and morning.”