Tahoe cyclist identified

[freshies]

I hope they fry this ass-hole

Cyclist dies from injuries; motorist charged with murder, manslaughter

By David Bunker and Joanna Hartman
Sierra Sun, dbunker@sierrasun.com
July 21, 2006

A Tahoe City man has been arraigned on charges of murder, manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol in a fatal hit-and-run collision with a cyclist Sunday night on Highway 28.

Joseph Santen was arraigned Thursday and entered no plea to the charges, said Placer County Deputy District Attorney Chris Cattran. The arraignment has been continued to next Thursday.

Cattran said Santen is a chronic DUI offender with convictions in 2000 and 2001 in Tahoe City and a 2004 conviction in San Diego.

If the district attorney’s office pursues the murder charge, it will have to prove the death of Brad Thomas Reilly occurred with “implied malice,” using his DUI conviction history and other evidence, said Cattran. Malice, or intent to kill, must be proven in a murder conviction.

A manslaughter charge is used in a case where a killing occurred without intent to kill.

Reilly, the Tahoe City cyclist allegedly hit by Santen, died Wednesday at Washoe Medical Center from head injuries suffered in the accident near Lake Forest.

Reilly was struck from behind while riding his bike west on Highway 28 near Lake Forest just after 11 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol reports.

Santen was arrested after allegedly fleeing the scene. He was not arrested immediately following the accident, said CHP officer Steve Skeen.

Reilly was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and camouflage pants on Sunday night, and officers are also examining the lighting of the road, whether the bike had reflectors, and any other factors that may determine how and why the accident occurred, Skeen said.

Reilly’s friends packed the Washoe Medical Center waiting room in the days following the accident, said Lynn Eaton, Reilly’s mother. The showing was a testament to her 27-year-old son’s friendly disposition and fun-loving nature, she said.

“He made tons of friends up here,” Eaton said.

Born in Spokane, Wash., where his family still lives, Reilly set out for adventure, driving his car as far as it would take him, said Eaton. He ended up in North Tahoe, pursuing his outdoor passions of snowboarding, skateboarding and cycling.

“He was a free spirit,” Eaton said.

Reilly worked at Squaw Valley USA last winter and was working summer jobs while gearing up for another winter on the slopes, according to those who knew him.

“He was an amazing mountain biker and snowboarder. He just lived his life in a way that made him happy,” said friend Christy Deysher. “Being in Tahoe made him happy. He was just a really good guy.”

He had a particular love for cycling, and used his bike as his main transportation, Eaton said.

Mitch Pavel, another Tahoe friend, remembers Reilly’s seemingly ever-present cheerfulness.

“He was always smiling,” said Pavel.

Eaton said she believes her son was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Skeen said no helmet was found at the scene.

The CHP still has eight officers working the case, Skeen said, including a state helicopter that has been taking aerial photographs of the roadway where the collision occurred.

This case is “very complex,” said Skeen, and the officers are interviewing each witness.

[Benny Profane]

ummmmm....."Reilly was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and camouflage pants on Sunday night."

That's not good.

That said, some dude got killed about 4 miles from here last month at 11 AM buy some drunken white trash piece of shit. Crushed right into the guardrail on a calm back road with great shoulders. Wearing a helmet and bright colors. Like that mattered.

[P_McPoser]

Sucky! Not a big fan of the chronic DUI offender (apologies to those here...no offense intended)...but seriously....."Reilly was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and camouflage pants on Sunday night." WHY do people do this? Would it have kept it from happening? Who knows, but why tempt fate?

Night riding should include Headlight, Rear blinky light, and reflective clothing if no reflectors on your bike.

[train07]

am moments from straddling bike for an evening ten mile ride to the "big city".

yeah, the dark clothing is totally asking for it.

Would it be safer to take the car home?...yeah

if you're going to be taken out, at least be all lit up.




hey, at least it's not 11am

[Dromond]

Sucky! Not a big fan of the chronic DUI offender (apologies to those here...no offense intended)

Do you really have to make apologies? I have known a great person or two who have had DUIs. But if said people don't realize that it's a major problem, they definitely should. I'm certainly not going to tiptoe around it.


My $0.02

[P_McPoser]

Do you really have to make apologies? I have known a great person or two who have had DUIs. But if said people don't realize that it's a major problem, they definitely should. I'm certainly not going to tiptoe around it.
My $0.02

They realize it, I just didn't want someone to think I was calling them out. That's all.

[SkiingBear]

They realize it, I just didn't want someone to think I was calling them out. That's all.

By all means, call them out. My brother got a DUI and I don't let a year go by without letting him know if he gets another I'm flying home to kick his ass.

I've got more than a few years of drinking behind me, and yeah I did some dumb things while drunk...but there's no excuse for a DUI and even less of an excuse for killing someone in the process.

Brad Thomas Reilly...RIP, you did not choose to die.

...flame away.

[tradygirl]

I totally agree with Bear. I don't think there's any excuse for a drunk driver hitting a cyclist, dark clothing or not. We all have a responsibility when we get behind the wheel and most people don't take that seriously enough.

I am a big advocate for bicycle commuters and I think the driver awareness is woefully inadequate (at least in SLC). I'm looking forward to the day that we don't have to worry about getting on our bikes to ride home.

[Big Blue]

Obviously we don't know the details of what happened, but if he had dark clothing and no lights it's possible that the guy being drunk had nothing to do with it. My friend hit (actually, was hit by) a cyclist while driving in Berkeley one night. He was driving up Euclid, and made a left turn just before it gets really steep. A cyclist with dark clothing and no lights was hauling ass down the hill. My friend didn't see him and turned left right in front of the guy. The dude hit his front right quarter panel, flew over the hood and under a parked car. Got completely fucked up. My friend called the police immediately and was scared shitless that he was in major trouble. The police took one look at what happened and told my friend that not only was he not in trouble, but if he wanted to sue the cyclist for the damage to his car he could. So don't ride at night without a light kiddies.

[train07]

i won't wax poetic about last nites ride ....
The risk is worth it.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]