Advocacy & Safety - Driver gets 41 months for killing Minneapolis cyclist

A 28-year-old Minneapolis man was sentenced to prison Monday for striking and killing a bicyclist who was on his way to synagogue last fall.

Wesley Gubbin was sentenced to 41 months in prison. He pleaded guilty last month to criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Thomas Malloy, 61....

A motorist reported seeing the truck speeding on the parkway, striking Malloy and never slowing down. Another motorist reported that the pickup truck had tailgated him before passing three vehicles and hitting Malloy.

http://www.startribune.com/local/171077651.html?clmob=y&c=n&refer=y

RIP, Thomas Malloy.

Wow, and no alcohol involved.

"According to the criminal complaint, Gubbin said he "did not know what to do and just kept driving."

Like the old racing adage, "When in doubt, power out".

So this idiot hits "something" and then just keeps driving? Had no one ever told him... "you're not supposed to hit stuff!"

Wow, and no alcohol involved.

Nor a suspended license. That's astonishing. Dare we hope it could be the start of a trend? Or was it mostly because of the hit and run?

Wow, and no alcohol involved.


Nor a suspended license. That's astonishing. Dare we hope it could be the start of a trend? Or was it mostly because of the hit and run?

The driver turned himself in several hours later after ditching the vehicle, so who knows if alcohol was involved? Police had several witnesses, description of the vehicle, and a plate number, so it was only a matter of time before he was caught. I believe the driver may have had a criminal record, though, so that may be why he got time.

A few other facts:
1)West River Parkway has a speed limit of 25. There are walking and bike trails next to West River Parkway, as well as sidewalks and bike lanes on Franklin. On a nice day there are many pedestrians and cyclists in the area, crossing the parkway. The driver was reckless, speeding on a parkway.
2)Although the driver was heading northbound, he hit the cyclist in the southbound lane, as he powered past vehicles that had stopped to let the cyclist cross.

His egregious behavior got him prison time, but there are some here who think the sentence was too light.

sentence is too light. if you drive recklessly and it results in someone's death, you should get the same.

Nor a suspended license. That's astonishing. Dare we hope it could [not] be the start of a trend? Or was it mostly because of the hit and run?

Corrected.

Typical. Another slap on the wrist for killing a cyclist.

sentence is too light. if you drive recklessly and it results in someone's death, you should get the same.

Hammurabi would be proud.

Hey, at least this jackhole got prison time. Here in San antonio, a couple on a tandem was killed after being hit from behind by a pickup truck when the driver was distracted by a building (?). Three years after the killings, the jury decided it was an 'unfortunate accident' and the guy walked. Two weeks ago a 17 year old was swerving and speeding in traffic and ran a stop sign, after which he struck a cyclist, killing him instantly. He has yet to be charged and is on the street (by comparison, a 12 year old girl is bring held in juvenile detention with no bond for calling in a bomb threat). I have had to flag down sherriff's officers twice in the past month to have them do something about the cars (that they had just driven by) parked illegally in the bike lanes.


Later,

Wow, and no alcohol involved.

Driver waited nine hours before turning himself in. Who can rule in or out alcohol or any other substance that might have affected the driver's judgement?
Given the description of his manner of driving, I would be suspicious of his physical state as regards drugs/alcohol.

The excuse given for not stopping "that he didn't know what to do, so just kept driving" coupled with his ninth hour realization that he should turn himself in is classic for drivers under the influence.

Such drivers can take refuge in their "ignorance" until the influencing substance clears their system, then turn themsleves in after detection of influencing substances are no longer detectable.

Forty one months, no matter the driver's state at the time of the incident, should work to "sober-up" this driver.

Caruso