Story Published:
Oct 10, 2005 at 10:35 AM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 31, 2006 at 1:06 AM PST
SEATTLE - A Bellevue dentist who was injured while
she was riding her bicycle has died, and a man being held on
hit-and-run charges will likely be charged with vehicular homicide,
police in this Seattle suburb said.
Gail A. Alef, 54, of Redmond, who was struck by a car Sept. 18,
died Sunday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, police said.
King County prosecutors said Monday they expect to decide within
two weeks whether to file additional charges against Steven Edward
Riedel, 58, who was taken to Western State Hospital for a mental
evaluation at the request of his lawyer. Bail was set at $100,000.
Riedel, initially charged with vehicular assault and felony
hit-and-run, will probably be charged soon with vehicular homicide,
police officer Stacey P. Holland said.
Investigators said Alef and some friends were riding on a street
west of downtown Redmond when a Nissan 300ZX coming from the
opposite direction hit the curb and veered across the median toward
them. Five other bicyclists got out of the way, but Alef hit the
curb, fell and was run over.
Riedel, arrested about 15 minutes later at the Willows Run Golf
Course, left the scene on foot and removed his pants, shoes and
socks to try to disguise his appearance, police wrote.
He told police voluntarily that he had taken alcohol, marijuana
and antidepressants the night before the accident, and marijuana
and smoking paraphernalia were found in the car, according to
police reports. Toxicology tests were pending.
Foggy weather at the time was "a contributing factor, but I
don't think it will have much to do with the real reason," Holland
said.