Posted on Mon, Nov. 17, 2008
Tickets, not criminal charges, recommended after officer killed on bicycle
A Eudora man who killed a Douglas County sheriff’s officer in a traffic accident should get tickets for the incident, the Douglas County district attorney said.
Kyle Van Meter was driving west on a county road when he rear-ended Lt. David Dillon’s bicycle on June 28, said District Attorney Charles Branson, who also said Van Meter told authorities he was distracted by the radio and did not see the officer until the impact.
The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated the accident and reported the outcome to Branson. He said he has sent the case back to them suggesting that tickets be issued for unsafe overtaking/passing, following too closely and failure to wear a seatbelt, he said in a press release.
The death does not warrant state criminal charges, Branson said, but “it is a difficult time for the family, the sheriff’s Department and all those involved.”
He also noted that studies have shown that 80 percent of crashes are caused by distracted drivers.
“If any good can come from the tragedy we can only hope people will slow down and pay attention to their driving,” he said.
Joe Lambe, jlambe@kcstar.com
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