San Francisco, California, prosecutors recently made a plea agreement that some are calling controversial for a pedestrian accident that occurred last July.
The pedestrian accident happened when a 23-year-old cyclist collided with a 68-year-old pedestrian. The pedestrian accident occurred in San Francisco, California, when the cyclist ran a red light while traveling on the Embarcadero.
The 68-year-old pedestrian was from Washington D.C. and was visiting San Francisco when the accident occurred. As a result of the accident, the pedestrian incurred traumatic brain injuries. The pedestrian died a couple weeks after the accident. The cyclist testified that he was rushing because he was late to get to work at the time of the accident.
The cyclist who injured the pedestrian was charged with vehicular manslaughter and the cyclist pleaded guilty. The plea agreement included a guilty plea, three years of probation, 500 community service hours and restitution to the victim’s family in the amount of $15,000.
The cyclist claimed he will become a bicycle safety advocate and use his community service time to work with an organization that promotes bicycle safety. San Francisco has a history of bicycle accidents, which led may people to voice their concerns about this case.
Many people requested the cyclist be used as an example to other cyclist and requested the one year jail sentence associated with the criminal charge. It is not just a motor vehicle that can cause negligent injury or death to another person. Any kind of negligence or careless behavior that causes injury to a pedestrian can become the basis of a civil lawsuit as well.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Randolph Ang, San Francisco Cyclist Who Killed 68-Year Old Pedestrian, Strikes Probation Plea Deal,” Aaron Sankin, March 13, 2012
