Four Articles on Cece Krone tragedy
Robert Hull
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 17:38:13 EDT
Subject: Fwd: Bail Reduced For Cecy Krone's Killer
Sender: owner...@cycling.org
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From: "Oren Noah" <oren...@inreach.com>
Subject: Bail Reduced For Cecy Krone's Killer - Today's Press Coverage
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 07:41:59 -0700
Today's Marin Independent Journal Coverage from www.marinij.com:
Bail lowered for driver in fatal bicycle crash
<Picture>
Lawrence Nigro of San Anselmo, former boyfriend of Cecilia Krone, visits
roadside shrine created to honor the bicyclist.
Photo: Jeremy Portje
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Guy Ashley
A Marin judge lowered the bail yesterday for a driver charged with running
her Jeep into a bicyclist and killing her.
A loud gasp echoed through the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Peter
Allen Smith when he announced he would lower the bail for Michele M. Young
from $250,000 to $75,000.
Young, 49, is charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter in
connection with Saturday's crash on Nicasio Valley Road near San Geronimo
that killed Cecilia "Cecy" Krone, 42, of San Anselmo. Young remained at
the
Marin County Jail last night.
The judge's decision to lower bail angered a contingent of Krone's friends
who attended the brief court session.
"It sends a message that you can drink, drive, kill someone, endanger your
child o and basically get a slap on the wrist," said Fred Lengyel, a
friend
of Krone's who was riding with her when she was killed.
Papers filed with the court by the California Highway Patrol say breath
tests given to Young shortly after the accident showed her blood-alcohol
level at .217 and .214. Both readings were nearly three times the legal
limit of .08.
A Lagunitas resident for 19 years, Young also is charged with one felony
count of child endangerment because her 10-year-old son, John Oliver
Young,
was a passenger in the 1983 Jeep when the crash happened.
Reports filed by the CHP say the vehicle struck Krone as the bicyclist was
ascending a hill on a weekly group ride from San Anselmo to the Nicasio
Reservoir. Krone died at a Walnut Creek hospital about five hours after
the
crash.
Investigators say Young's vehicle veered onto the shoulder and slammed
into
Krone, pinning the bicyclist against a rock embankment. Witnesses said
that
after the initial impact, the Jeep continued forward and dragged Krone
several feet.
Krone was taking part with about 30 other bicyclists in a weekly group
ride
from downtown San Anselmo to the Nicasio Reservoir.
Fellow riders said that Krone had gone ahead of the group because she felt
she was not as fast in hill-climbing as some of the other bicyclists.
Witnesses said she was about 100 yards in front of the pack when the
accident occurred.
Riders in the pack behind Krone told the CHP that the driver of the Jeep
blared her horn angrily at them as she passed, moments before they came
upon Krone crumpled on the ground amid the shattered pieces of her
titanium
bicycle.
CHP Officer Brian Witmer wrote in a report that when he arrived at the
scene, Young was "stumbling on her feet" near her car. He said he smelled
alcohol on her breath and noted that her speech was "slow and slurred"
before he administered field sobriety tests, which she failed.
Smith lowered Young's bail after her attorney, Roger Hurt, asserted that
the $250,000 set after her arrest on Saturday was far beyond the figure
listed in the county bail schedule for the crimes charged.
That figure is about $50,000, said Assistant District Attorney Ed
Berberian. Prosecutors had convinced Superior Court Judge Stephen Graham
to
set the higher bail on Saturday by noting that the suspect pleaded guilty
in a separate drunken-driving case in 1993.
Judge Smith also allowed Young yesterday to withdraw a not guilty plea she
entered on Tuesday to one of the vehicular manslaughter charges while her
attorney challenges the legal foundation for the charge. Young is also
facing a count of child endangerment.
Young, who works as a bookkeeper for her husband's contracting business,
was ordered to return to Smith's court on Sept. 15.
Friends of Krone have set up a memorial fund to help defray the costs of
medical treatment that was provided to her in her final moments. Donations
can be made to the Cecy Krone Memorial Fund, c/o Bank of Marin, 4460
Redwood Highway, San Rafael 94903.
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Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 14:16:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dan Kalb <da...@well.com>
Subject: memorial ride... important... (fwd)
Thought this would be of interest to everyone, sadly.
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From: Balogh, Penny [mailto:PBa...@sectorbase.com]
Fellow cyclists, please read this:
Last Saturday September 4th, Cecy Krone, a well known Marin County
cyclists was struck and killed by a drunk driver at 9:30a.m. while on a
group road ride. Cecy was an avid cyclist (mountain and road), bike
racer, bicycle advocate, volunteer for "Trips for Kids", occupational
therapist working with local children, and friend. Cecy was also active
in the San Diego bicycle community before moving to Northern California.
She was approximately 150 yards ahead of the main group of about 30
riders climbing Golf Course Hill on Nicasio Valley Road. She was waiting
OFF THE ROAD for the group to come by so that she could join the pack.
While climbing the hill with the main group we heard an angry honking
behind us. The typical jokes went around about "road rage" as we all
tried to get a little farther over to the shoulder. A Jeep Wagoneer
passed us. Less than a minute later the group reached the top and saw
the scene. Bits of Cecy's Superlight Merlin titanium bike were littering
the road. The frame was simply shattered. The rear wheel, tacoed, lay in
the opposite lane. The forks were sheared off the bike...
Cecy's injuries were horrible. A paramedic on the ride assisted to keep
Cecy alive until an ambulance arrived. She was airlifted to John Muir
Hospital where she died at 3:15pm. The force of the impact knocked her
out of her Sidi's. She was dragged under car for several feet, and her
helmet left visible scars in the pavement. The helmet was obliterated.
Bits of the purple helmet shell littered the pavement like so many rose
petals. She suffered massive spinal and brain injuries, both femurs were
crushed. Cecy never had a chance.
(This is where you get outraged)
The Jeep Wagoneer was driven by a Michele Young. Young never swerved,
never slowed, never touched her brakes. Her tire marks are completely
off the road, up the rocky embankment. It took her approximately 200
yards to stop after the crash (on a 35mph road). Young apparently
started drinking at 7:00am. Some time later she loaded her 10 year old
daughter and pets into the car and left for a 150 mile drive on narrow
windy roads. Young showed absolutely no remorse at the scene. She was so
hammered that she nearly lost her balance and stepped on Cecy when she
came to look. Other cyclists had to grab her to keep her from falling
onto Cecy. She told the stunned cyclists at the scene that she had
several bloody marys that morning. She bombed the field sobriety test.
Apparently she has at least one prior DUI. This morning, in a Marin
County court, Michele Young pled NOT GUILTY to gross vehicular
manslaughter!
There will be a memorial ride for Cecy on Saturday, September 11. The
ride will depart from San Anselmo Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo, CA 635
San Anselmo Avenue at 9:00am. We will ride to Golf Course Hill for a
short memorial at 10:00am. The ride is about 8-9 miles to golf course
hill. We need the support and backing of as much of the cycling
community as possible. We are victims of motorists every day out there
on the roads. We need to make a statement to the public and the District
Attorney that we will not stand for this as a community, and that we
expect vigorous and unhesitating prosecution of this and all such cases.
All are welcome. If you can make it, please come and bring friends. If
not, then spread the word.
Here's part two. Later this week I will find and post the e-mail of the
Marin County District Attorney. Please take 2 minutes of your time to
e-mail the DA to urge vigorous prosecution of Michele Young in the death
of Cecy Krone.
RIDE FOR CECY!
RIDE TO SHARE THE ROADS!
RIDE AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING!
Thanks for reading. Stay safe out there.
Fred Lengyel
aka Red Rover
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 23:18:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Gerry Gras <Gerry...@mentorg.com>
Subject: Cici Krone Update - Tuesday's Arraignment ; Wednesday's Court Schedule; Saturday's Memorial Ride
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From: "Oren Noah" <oren...@inreach.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 23:05:20 -0700
Tuesday's Hearing:
At least 20 cyclists, dressed in business suits or dresses and carrying
bicycle helmets, attended today's (Tuesday) arraignment proceedings in
Marin Municipal Court. Even though the session was (as expected) short, we
made quite a statement and a stir in the courthouse. It was obvious that
they'd never seen anything like that before and we garnered significant
media attention.
Be sure to check out the Wednesday Independent Journal (www.marinij.com) to
see if our message got through. If it didn't, it's not because we weren't
trying!
As far as the case goes, Michele M. Young was arraigned on three charges -
manslaughter, driving under the influence and child endangerment. Through
her private attorney, she pled not guilty to the first charge and demurred
to the other two. Her attorney also asked that the $250,000 bail be waived
and that she be released on her own recognizance to a non-locked alcohol
treatment facility. The District Attorney objected, saying that she would
be a danger to the community. Commissioner Goldfine declined to decide
that issue and assigned the case to Judge Peter Allan Smith (after Young
exercised her sole preemptory challenge against Judge Graham).
Wednesday's Hearing:
Wednesday, at 9:00 a.m. before the Hon. Peter Allan Smith, Ms. Young's
attorney will again attempt to secure her release. Of course, we have
asked that the District Attorney strenuously object to Ms. Young's release,
unless it is into a locked, secure facility.
Cici's family and the cycling community greatly appreciate all who attended
the arraignment and urge that everyone who can plan on attending the future
dates, including Wednesday's bail hearing.
To keep track of the case, you can go to www.marin.org/mc/courts/index.html
and search the docket. It can be searched by case number (SO01252340) or
name (Young, Michele).
Saturday's Memorial Ride:
Please tell all of your cycling friends and acquaintances about Saturday's
Memorial Ride, which will start at the San Anselmo Coffee Roasters, 635 San
Anselmo Ave. (near Magnolia) in San Anselmo at 9:00 a.m.
Thanks again for everyone's support. It's making a difference. We can't
let this case be "business as usual."
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Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 16:39:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Gerry Gras <Gerry...@mentorg.com>
Subject: Memorial Ride for Marin Cyclist Killed by Drunk SUV Driver Next Saturday
Sorry about the duplicates.
Gerry
------------- Begin Forwarded Message -------------
Delivered-To: ba-announc...@cyclery.com
From: "Oren Noah" <oren...@inreach.com>
To: "SF-Critical Mass" <sf-criti...@cyclery.com>, "S.F. Bike"
<sfb...@cyclery.com>, "MarinBike" <mc...@bikadelic.com>, "Cal. Bike Coalition"
<c...@cyclery.com>, "CABO forum" <cabo...@cyclery.com>, "Bicycle Trails Council
- Marin" <bt...@cyclery.com>, "Bay Area Bike Announcements"
<ba-an...@cyclery.com>
Cc: "Alex Zuckerman" <REBA...@earthlink.net>
Subject: Memorial Ride for Marin Cyclist Killed by Drunk SUV Driver Next
Saturday
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 18:54:22 -0700
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
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Memorial Ride Information:
The Memorial Ride for Cecelia "Cici" Krone, who was struck, dragged and
killed by a drunk SUV driver last Saturday morning will be held as follows:
Saturday, September 11 at 9:00 a.m.
Begins at the San Anselmo Coffee Roasters, 635 San Anselmo Ave. (near
Magnolia)
in San Anselmo. Parking is problematic, so if you plan on driving over
with your bike,
come early.
The ride will go through Fairfax, over White's Hill and turn right at
Nicasio Valley Road to climb
up "Golf Course Hill." There will be a ceremony at the summit, where
Cici
was killed, followed
by a ceremony in a nearby Redwood grove where Cici loved to visit.
Cici's family was very touched by the support shown so far by area
cyclists, even by those who
did not know Cici. So, a large turnout of cyclists showing support will
move them deeply and will
send a message to the motoring public that it's not o.k. to "tank up"
before taking to the roads.
Crash Details:
Cici was struck by a drunk driving a Jeep Cherokee last Saturday morning
at about 9:30 a.m. Cici was riding with a group of local hot shot riders
on a regular "pick up" ride that begins each Saturday at the San Anselmo
Coffee Roasters. Because she couldn't climb as fast as the young Cat I
guys in the peloton, Cici had gone a bit early and climbed to the top of
"Golf Course Hill" on Nicasio Valley Road. She pulled off the roadway and
waited for the rest of the ride, which was less than a minute back.
Michele M. Young woke up that morning in Lagunitas, a few miles away,
and
began drinking heavily. At around 9:30 a.m. she loaded her ten year son,
cat and some other supplies into her Jeep Cherokee and attempted to drive
to Clear Lake, some 125 miles away. As she drove northbound on Nicasio
Valley Road, she passed some cyclists climbing "Golf Course Hill" and
honked furiously at them. When she reached gentle right hand curve to the
summit, she oversteered and rode her Cherokee up the rock embankment and
proceeded, without braking or corrective steering, to scrape the rock wall
all along the summit.
Cici, who was waiting off the roadway at the summit right next to the
rock
wall, never stood a chance. She was crushed by the unswerving, unimpeded
Cherokee and dragged along for quite some way. After Cici's body freed
itself from the Cherokee, Ms. Young continued on down the road for about
200 yards before regaining the ability to slow and stop her SUV.
Witnesses say that Ms. Young was too intoxicated to stand unaided and
that
she admitted that she'd been drinking since about 7:00 a.m. Witnesses also
say that Cici was virtually unrecognizable. Her body was mangled and her
face was a bloody, swollen mess. One of the riders was an Emergency Room
Nurse and immediately cleared Cici's airway and began CPR.
Cici was alive, but just barely. The only merciful aspect of her
condition is that she showed no signs of consciousness, her one eye that
was not swollen shut did not show responsiveness to light. Thus, she
couldn't feel the pain. She was airlifted to John Muir Hospital in Walnut
Creek and died that afternoon.
Witnesses report that Cici's bike was totally demolished, spraying the
area with pieces of chainrings and pieces of the titanium frame tubes. The
impact must have been quite severe.
Ms. Young failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody at the
scene. She is set to be arraigned at the Marin Civic Center at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday.
Ironically, another of the riders was a phlebotomist, on call that
weekend
for the Marin County Sheriff's Office, and was paged to come to the jail to
take Ms. Young's blood sample for testing. Imagine the discomfort Ms.
Young must have felt as she saw that the man with the needle was wearing
sweaty Lycra bike clothing under his white coat!
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 13:37:19 -0700
From: James DeCaro <jde...@cup.hp.com>
On Saturday, September 4, at 9:30am Cecy Krone was struck by a drunk
driver and died of massive injuries after being airlifted to John Muir
Hospital. She was joining the saturday Coffee Roasters ride and was
waiting on Golf Course Hill less than a minute ahead of the pack. She
was waiting off the road when she was struck by a drunken Michele
Young. After angrily honking at the pack climbing the hill, Young drove
her Jeep Cherokee onto the shoulder and along the rock embankment of the
narrow road, just around the corner from the climbing group. She never
touched her brakes, and never swerved to avoid Cecy who was waiting for
the pack to arrive. It took her over 200 yards to stop her car after
the impact. She told people at the crash site that she started drinking
bloody mary's at 7:00am before loading her 10-year old son and animals
into the car for a weekend trip to Clear Lake, several hours away. Bits
of Cecy's new superlight titanium Merlin littered the area, and her
injuries were horrific to the group of cyclists who arrived just moments
afterwards.
"Cecy" (Cecilia) Krone was active in the local cycling community. She
was an avid cyclist, racer, cycling advocate, and volunteer for Trips
for Kids. She was a regular on the Friday morning "chicken" ride, and
the Saturday Coffee Roaster's ride. Cecy was an occupational therapist
working with children who had motor skills problems. She was planning
on racing in the Giro on Monday.
On Saturday, September 11 there will be a Memorial Ride for Cecy. We
will meet at the San Anselmo Coffee Roasters (635 San Anselmo Avenue) at
9:00am and ride to the crash site for a short memorial at 10:00am.
Those who wish to continue on afterwards are welcome to. Please
consider attending, and notify your teammates of the ride. All are
welcome.
Help us to raise awareness of the dangers cyclists face daily on the
road. Help us to make a statement to the district attorney and judge
that the cycling community demands vigorous prosecution for this and all
such cases. Ride for Cecy! Ride to Share the Roads! Ride Against Drunk
Driving!
Thank you
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 15:42:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Marty Goodman MD KC6YKC <MARTYG...@delphi.com>
Subject: San Anselmo Cyclist killed by drunk driver
From the Grizzly Peak Cyclists Mailing list:
*******************************************************************
Bicyclist killed; driver held on DUI charges
By Lucy Maher
Marin IJ Sunday 9/5/99
A San Anselmo bicyclist was killed yesterday morning after she was hit by a
motorist who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, the California
Highway Patrol said.
Cecilia "Cecy" Krone, 42, was going north on Nicasio Valley Road at 9:40
a.m. with a group of riders when she was struck by a 1983 Jeep Grand
Wagoneer, driven by Michelle M. Young of Lagunitas, the CHP said.
The Jeep veered over the shoulder and struck Krone, CHP Officer Marcus
Bartholomew said. The bike was shattered, and Krone was left with fatal
injuries.
"She (Young) hit the bike and pinned the cyclist up against a rock
embankment," said Bartholomew. "Then, after the car struck the bike and
basically crushed the bike into the rock, the car dragged the bike and
cyclist several feet along the shoulder."
Krone was flown by helicopter to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, where
she died shortly after 3 p.m.
Bartholomew said Young failed a field sobriety test and was arrested. A
10-year-old boy driving with Young was not injured and was taken by Marin
sheriff's deputies to relatives.
Young was booked at Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony driving while
under the influence of alcohol, felony gross vehicular manslaughter while
intoxicated and felony child endangerment. Her bail was set at $300,000. She
is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
Bicyclists riding with Krone said she was conscious after being hit and
appeared in great pain.
"We all just kind of stopped and thought, it couldn't possibly be this bad,"
Eric Harr, 28, of Fairfax, said. "We all just stood there in a circle around
her. We were like children. There was nothing we could do."
Krone worked as an occupational therapist, most recently with children who
had motor skill problems, said Fred Lengyel, sports information director and
assistant athletic director at Dominican College. Lengyel regularly rode
with Krone.
"She was feisty, but she was also very, very sweet to everybody," he said.
Krone's parents, who live in Southern California, traveled to the Bay Area
last night after hearing of the accident.
***********************************************************
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 12:30:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Sapiro <msa...@value.net>
Subject: Cyclist Killed by Drunk Driver in Marin
Steve Wyrostok of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition wrote:
We are very sad to report that one of our members and friends, Cecilia
Krone, was struck by a car while riding in San Geronimo Valley yesterday,
and later died of her injuries.
All of our thoughts are with her today. Plans are being made for a memorial
ride next Sunday, September 12th. We will pass along details when we know
them.
Steve Wyrostok, MCBC
--
The difference between knowledge and belief is doubt.
Dan Connelly
> Young, 49, is charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter in
> connection with Saturday's crash on Nicasio Valley Road near San Geronimo
>
> Papers filed with the court by the California Highway Patrol say breath
> tests given to Young shortly after the accident showed her blood-alcohol
> level at .217 and .214. Both readings were nearly three times the legal
> limit of .08.
>
> The Jeep Wagoneer was driven by a Michele Young. Young never swerved,
> never slowed, never touched her brakes. Her tire marks are completely
> off the road, up the rocky embankment. It took her approximately 200
> yards to stop after the crash (on a 35mph road).
If Ms. Young, in her triple-drunken semi-coma, had taken a shotgun and
blown Cece away, would it still be "manslaughter"?
Is there any difference?
This isn't even a cycling accident -- it's a pedestrian accident.
Dan
Jym Dyer
> may be imposed.
=o= And this accused does not pose such a risk?
> 3- If the accused presents an imminent threat to the public,
> bail may again be increased or denied.
=o= The accused very clearly has a drinking problem, and ready
access to a four-wheeled deadly weapon. No such person should
be allowed on the streets.
<_Jym_>