At last...a guilty plea

Back in late June, a good friend of a bunch of us at the LBS was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike home from work.

It was the nightmare scenario: Wide shoulder, you think you're fine, drunk comes up behind you and slams into you. You never saw it coming.

Here's a report from a friend who went to the hearing:


The hearing was held to have the defendant confirm his plea before the court , and provide him an understanding of his waiver to certain (constitutional) rights. There was also a briefing by the prosecution as to the charges being brought, and a synopsis of the evidence. (The details of the evidence: QF [initials of the defendant] was driving his SUV erratically and and very fast (determined to be 69mph +/- when he hit Stan). Stan was riding well inside the 10' wide paved shoulder. QF went into the shoulder and Stan was hit from behind, and thrown 114 feet into the fence. Stan initially survived the impact. QF had stopped a short distance away, then backed up to the scene, almost hitting some witnesses, got out and asked what happened. Police arrived and QF was given field sobriety tests, failed, refused a breathalyzer and was taken to the hospital for mandatory testing. QF was combative, even trying to bite one arresting officer. Blood samples showed a BAL of .18. This is one of three DUI offenses QF has had.)

The plea was "guilty to the charge of vehicular manslaughter"; which, has a possible maximum sentence of 10 years. It appears that other charges were droped [sic] as part of the plea agreement.

The sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 1:30pm

I will be happy to have this one taken off the streets. But I am sooo sad that Stan is gone.

I live not far from there and go by the ghost bike frequently. It breaks my heart every time. I can only imagine how hard this has all been on those of you that knew him.

More press on Stan.

:(

Such a tragedy. Could happen to any of us that ride on the road, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. My heart breaks for Stan's family and friends. :(

What a terrible loss. My heart goes out to all of Stan's family and friends.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend...he sounds like he was a classy guy in every way. I am thankful that justice will be served. A shame that this ever had to happen.

I just cried and cried while reading your OP and then the article about Stan. I'm so sorry you lost your friend, and that his community lost him. Truly tragic all the way around. I feel for the driver, although his actions cost him this path he leads now and took another person's life.
I've been known to do stupid things while driving (never DUI, tho) and I only became a more vigilant and attentive driver once I became a cyclist. If only we could make everyone ride a bike for one solid week, maybe, just maybe we could save some of our friends.

Hugs to you and to everyone that Stan touched.