DuPont exec charged in bicyclist's hit-run death
Cris Barrish and Esteban Parra, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal 12:50 p.m. EDT September 17, 2014 A 44-year-old DuPont Co. manager was charged Tuesday with criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of the crash near his Hockessin, Del., home that killed a bicyclist last week. The (Wilmington, Del.)
News Journal DuPont_exec_charged_091714_2 Gabriel Pardo, 44, an executive at DuPont Co., was charged Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, with criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of the crash. Pardo turned himself in Tuesday. (Photo: Suchat Pederson, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal) WILMINGTON, Del. —
A 44-year-old DuPont Co. manager was charged Tuesday with criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death near his home that killed a bicyclist last week. Phillip Bishop, 27, an aspiring teacher, was hit about 8:45 p.m. Friday, about a mile from his home. Police say that Gabriel F. Pardo had crossed into the rider's lane when his black sedan struck Bishop. Pardo "was clearly on the wrong side of the road" when his northbound Audi A4 hit the front wheel of Bishop's bike, according to the arrest warrant filed Tuesday and obtained by the (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal. Bishop was "lawfully riding his bicycle'' in the southbound lane of the winding, narrow back road when he was killed, the warrant said. He was wearing his helmet with a head lamp, flashlight and his bike had a rear flashing red marker light. DELAWAREONLINE Bicyclist killed less than mile from Hockessin home Evidence showed that the 2003 Audi continued on to the grassy southbound shoulder, where "tire markings consistent with the Audi's tires'' were found, Officer First Class William K. Hussong wrote in the warrant. Impact damage was found on the Audi's passenger side front bumper, grill windshield, hood and roof, Hussong wrote, adding that the southbound lane where Bishop had been cycling was littered with "marks, black paint ships, car parts and blood drops.''
Pardo surrendered to New Castle County police Tuesday. He was arrested, arraigned and released after posting $50,000 secured bail for the crash that has led Delaware's bicycling community to say many roads are unsafe for commuters. If convicted of both felonies, he could face zero to 13 years in prison but sentencing guidelines used by Delaware judges call for zero to three years and three months behind bars. Pardo will be back in court Oct. 1 for a preliminary hearing. After his out-of-control car hit Bishop, Pardo didn't stop or call 911, court records show. But at 9:20 a.m. Saturday — about 12 hours afterward — Pardo called the county police non-emergency line to say his black Audi "hit something'' on Brackenville Road the previous night and "wanted police to come check it out to see if he was the person who hit the cyclist.'' Hussong went to Pardo's home and saw the damaged Audi in the garage. In court documents, Hussong said he saw "the entire front windshield cracked, front bumper, missing grill, hood and roof damage to the Audi A4." Hussong went to speak to Pardo, who was speaking to his lawyer on the phone. "Mr. Pardo stated he was advised by his attorney to provide his driver's license information, registration and insurance," according to records.
DuPont_exec_charged_091714 Phillip Bishop, 27, was killed while riding his bike home from work Friday, Sept. 12, 2014.(Photo: Courtesy Bishop family) There appeared to be "bodily fluids and hair on the damaged areas of the car,'' Hussong wrote. Pardo consented to his Audi being impounded. On Monday, investigators were able to study damage to the bike and vehicle and determine it was "consistent" with the fatal crash, court records state. Pardo, whose profile on the professional network LinkedIn lists his title as regional market and business manager for DuPont Disinfectants, could not be reached at home Tuesday. Asked about the arrest of one of its managers in the hit-and-run, DuPont spokesman Dan Turner said by e-mail Tuesday that the case "is a pending law enforcement matter" and referred questions to police. Turner would not comment on Pardo's job status, saying it was a "personnel" matter. Pardo, who lives about a quarter-mile from the crash site, was the driver of a black Audi that evidence at the scene determined was involved in the crash, police said. After Pardo was charged, Bishop's mother, Johanna Bishop, said nothing about the arrest but thanked friends and well-wishers for their support. "We are heart-warmed by the community outpouring," she said. "The love from the community has been phenomenal. People are saying such kind things about Phillip, and that's what we have to carry forward.
"We have to live life now and make Phillip proud of us and live according to Phillip's principles, which was just to be kind and do good." Bishop's family is asking mourners to make donations to the group aiming to make cycling a safe transportation option in Delaware. Bishop was killed while pedaling home from work. Bike Delaware said Tuesday it has started a Web page to accept donations on behalf of Bishop. Donations can be made at www.bikede.org/phillip/. "Phillip realized quickly that as a cyclist, life was suddenly much more dangerous," the Bike Delaware page said. "Safety was a foremost concern when he was riding. Phillip chose the streets he rode on with care, would not ride when the roads were wet and slick, and was always well lit at night. "Unfortunately, even the measures that Phillip took were not enough." Contributing: Melissa Nann Burke, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/17/dupont-exec-charged-hit-run-death/15770611/
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario