Careless Driver Gets No Jail Time for Hit and Run

Metier Law Firm
Wed, 28 May 2014 18:00:37 +0000
Automobile Crash, Bicycle Accidents, Fort Collins Accidents By Location, Personal Injuries, Safety Lawyer

A Fort Collins woman who hit and killed a cyclist back in January has pled guilty, but she may serve no jail time for her crimes.

On January 25, the young woman was driving down the frontage road on Interstate 25 near Colorado Highway 392 when she hit 46-year-old cyclist Ernesto Wiedenbrug. She fled the scene before help arrived.

First responders found Wiedenbrug seriously injured and transported him to Medical Center of the Rockies. He later died from his injuries.

The hit-and-run driver and her attorney met with the authorities several days after the crash. The woman admitted to hitting the cyclist, saying that she had a “medical condition” that made her “dizzy”. She admitted she should have pulled over but did not, and she hit the cyclist shortly after.

The 28-year-old driver was charged with leaving the scene of a crash (a Class 3 Felony) and careless driving. If a judge decides she does not qualify for probation, she could serve a community service sentence of between 4 – 12 years.

Rick Price, a national advocate for safe cycling, says that he is surprised, frustrated and disappointed with the lenient sentence.

Most cyclists’ anger stems from the fact that after hitting Wiedenbrug, the driver fled the scene and evaded the police for days.

“That’s just incomprehensible and completely unacceptable,” Price said outside the courtroom on Wednesday.

I Need a Lawyer for Bicyclists in Colorado

Hit-and-run drivers often escape justice, due to time delays and lack of evidence at the scene of the accident. Bicyclists are often at an increased risk of injury from careless or intoxicated drivers. If you or someone you love has been injured by a hit-and- run driver, Metier Law Firm can help you hold them responsible. Call now for a free consultation.

Metier Law Firm, LLC – Injury Attorneys Serving Clients Nationwide

Source: http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/2014/05/14/hit-run-driver-fatally-injured-cyclist-pleads-guilty/9087021/