SAN FRANCISCO, July 24 (UPI) -- A San Francisco bicycle safety instructor has pleaded guilty to fatally striking an elderly man while running a red light at an intersection on his bike.
Chris Bucchere's agreement to plead guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter spares him a prison term, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday. He will be sentenced in August to 1,000 hours of community service.
District Attorney George Gascon said Bucchere, 37, is the first person to be convicted of felony vehicular manslaughter for a cycling death.
"We made it very clear that we wanted Mr. Bucchere to be held accountable, and I think it was important to get a felony conviction because the conduct warranted it," Gascon said Monday.
Sutchi Hui, 71, was crossing Castro Street with his wife when he was hit in March 2012. He was severely injured and died in a hospital.
Bucchere, who was also injured, caused a stir with an Internet post. In it, he expressed some sympathy for the victim but he dedicated the post to his helmet, which was destroyed by the impact when he was thrown off his bike.
Bucchere also appeared to be excusing his behavior, saying the light was yellow when he entered the intersection.
