James Michael Hazzard, 20, who hit and killed Debra Miller last August, has pleaded no contest to negligent homicide and has been ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to the family:
A driver accused of hitting and killing a bicycle rider on State Highway 51 west of Stillwater earlier this year has pleaded no contest to negligent homicide.
. . .
Special Judge Michael Stano deferred sentencing and judgment for one year, but required Hazzard to pay $20,000 in restitution by Jan. 3. The restitution will go to Miller’s family.
Hazzard must also pay $1,300 in court fines and complete an accident avoidance course, a life skills class and 100 community service hours.
via Driver who hit Stillwater bicyclist must pay $20,000 restitution » Local News » Stillwater NewsPress.
While certainly not even close to being as egregious as the recent Vail, Colorado case, this sentence is disappointingly light. Mr. Hazzard did not flee the scene so, I can understand maybe not sentencing him to lengthy jail time but some would have seemed to be appropriate. Then you’ve got the 2 1/2 weeks of community service which is just a joke. However, what really has me incensed is that it appears, according to the last line of the story, that Mr. Hazzard will be able to drive again.
Shouldn’t killing another human being due to admitted inattention (Mr. Hazzard claimed that the sun was in his eyes which caused him to drift onto the shoulder and strike Ms. Miller) be a clear-cut sign that you should not be allowed the privilege of operating a motor vehicle? How many bodies does it take to have your license revoked?