Sentencing will happen Dec 18th.
Prosecutors said Colbert hit bicyclists Katie Pohler, 23, and Todd Green, 27, while she was driving on June 28 on Route 450 near Brice Lane in the Annapolis area. Officials said the victims were in the dedicated bike lane and that Colbert drifted into them.
Pohler and Green were flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore, where Pohler underwent treatment for critical injuries. Green was treated and released, but Pohler is still recovering.
Officials said Colbert had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 at the time, which is nearly double the legal limit. She had also been driving with a 3-year-old relative in the car, prosecutors said.
Frankly, she was lucky that her two victims were young and healthy. Some other cyclists might not have survived. In fact, if one of them later dies from complications due to their injuries, I suppose she could be charged with some form of homicide.
She was orginially indicted on 11 charges
The woman has been indicted on 11 charges, including two counts of second-degree assault as well as driving while impaired by alcohol while transporting a minor.
But the plea is for only 2 of those charges - causing a life-threatening injury while under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol while transporting a minor
Is the prosecutor sending a message that drunk driving is a problem, but running over cyclists is not?
Posted by: SJE | November 21, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Wow, a 0.15 with a kid in the car and she sent the one cyclist into critical care (few photos floating around out there that look like the poor cyclist woman almost died) and they drop most of them to permit a plea bargain? Yah that takes some real gall from the prosecutor... /sarcasm.
The bike safety card that WBAL story links to is also kind of ridiculous. Eg, "Motorists must pass at a distance of three, with important exceptions: ... If Bicyclist fails to ride to the right....If the roadway is not wide enough for the
motorist to pass legally at a distance of
three feet." And then it explains this further to cyclists by saying you don't have to ride to right if "Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and
another vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane."
So the card is saying a car can pass you with less than 3' if it's not safe for them to pass otherwise per road dimensions, meanwhile you can take the lane in the same scenario. Huh? It's like encouraging them to ride within inches and then whine you're not too the right.
Posted by: T | November 21, 2014 at 12:23 PM
She will probably get a weekend of community service, or a similar ridiculous sentence.
Posted by: M | November 21, 2014 at 01:39 PM
Based on some work I did a long time ago with Jim T, she will not automatically lose her license, and is likely to have a light sentence. The bottom line is that she will probably be driving in 2015.
Then again, this is AA county, where any charge for killing a cyclist is almost a miracle.
Posted by: SJE | November 21, 2014 at 05:41 PM
Another ringing endorsement for vehicular cycling.
Posted by: separated ways | November 22, 2014 at 01:52 PM
I don't think this crash has anything to do with vehicular cycling or bike lanes. They were hit from behind by a drunk driver in daylight. There's really no strategy to prevent that.
Posted by: washcycle | November 22, 2014 at 07:22 PM
If this is on the stretch of 450 I'm picturing, it's 4 lanes, divided, with a very generous shoulder. The speed limits is 50, most motor traffic goes 65, and no one cycles on the road.
This woman should never drive again, of course.
Posted by: Smedley Burkhart | November 22, 2014 at 10:14 PM
Smedley, I think it is on the part of 450 that is also the end of the Baltimore Annapolis rail trail. There's a bike lane there. Lots of people ride that part I believe.
Posted by: washcycle | November 23, 2014 at 10:02 AM
Washcycle: "There's really no strategy to prevent that" Agreed. Which is why the law is the best tool for dealing with this problem.
Posted by: SJE | November 23, 2014 at 04:03 PM
"This woman should never drive again, of course." But that is the least likely outcome. How many drunks get their license permanently revoked?
Posted by: SJE | November 23, 2014 at 04:13 PM
Thanks, wash. I've never ridden a bike there, but I'm thinking of the same place. The bike lanes are ultra-wide, unmarked shoulders and, as you point out, full of riders. My only point was that there is no opportunity to ride "vehicularly" there.
SJE, I harbor no illusions.
Posted by: Smedley Burkhart | November 23, 2014 at 09:08 PM