Driver pleads guilty in hit-and-run crash that killed cyclist
SEATTLE -- The man suspected in the hit-and-run death of cyclist Michael Wang has pleaded guilty to the crime.
Erlin Garcia-Reyes, 28, of Normandy Park has pleaded guilty to felony hit-and-run in Wang's death on July 28, 2011.
Garcia-Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced next month. He faces up to 41 months in prison.
Wang, 44, was on his way home when he was hit by an SUV near the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street.
A witness told police the driver was trying to turn left onto Thomas when a line of oncoming cars began approaching. The driver quickly made the turn and hit Wang, the witness said.
More than 10 months passed without an arrest in the case until last month when police arrested Garcia-Reyes.
Court papers obtained by KOMO News indicated police began focusing their investigation on Garcia-Reyes in April after learning he was the registered owner of a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban that was believed to involved in the hit-and-run.
When officers interviewed him at his home last month, Garcia-Reyes admitted that he had been involved in an accident with a bicyclist in July 2011 and that he had fled the scene, according to court documents.
Garcia-Reyes then agreed to guide detectives to the spot where the collision had taken place, and it was the exact spot where Wang was struck and killed, court papers said. He was then placed under arrest.
Wang rode his bike every day between his Shoreline home and his office at at PATH, a health-care nonprofit aimed at improving health around the world. Wang worked as a facilities manager and photographer for the organization.
"It isn't fair," Wang's widow, Claire Allen, said last year. "He wasn't finished raising his children, and I wasn't ready to lose him."
Erlin Garcia-Reyes, 28, of Normandy Park has pleaded guilty to felony hit-and-run in Wang's death on July 28, 2011.
Garcia-Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced next month. He faces up to 41 months in prison.
Wang, 44, was on his way home when he was hit by an SUV near the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street.
A witness told police the driver was trying to turn left onto Thomas when a line of oncoming cars began approaching. The driver quickly made the turn and hit Wang, the witness said.
More than 10 months passed without an arrest in the case until last month when police arrested Garcia-Reyes.
Court papers obtained by KOMO News indicated police began focusing their investigation on Garcia-Reyes in April after learning he was the registered owner of a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban that was believed to involved in the hit-and-run.
When officers interviewed him at his home last month, Garcia-Reyes admitted that he had been involved in an accident with a bicyclist in July 2011 and that he had fled the scene, according to court documents.
Garcia-Reyes then agreed to guide detectives to the spot where the collision had taken place, and it was the exact spot where Wang was struck and killed, court papers said. He was then placed under arrest.
Wang rode his bike every day between his Shoreline home and his office at at PATH, a health-care nonprofit aimed at improving health around the world. Wang worked as a facilities manager and photographer for the organization.
"It isn't fair," Wang's widow, Claire Allen, said last year. "He wasn't finished raising his children, and I wasn't ready to lose him."
This article needs an editor. "at at", "onto Thomas [Street]", "believed to [be] involved".
He hid for 10 months after a cowardly act of running away after he knew he injured someone...but at the sentencing he will apologize (no doubt he is sorry, sorry he was caught).....on a separate note, I hope KOMO's commenting changes are more on the level than the previous methods.