UPDATED: Manslaughter Charge in Death of San Leandro Bicyclist

Bay City News Service — An Alameda County deputy probation officer has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in the death of  struck by her car in June, a district attorney's office spokeswoman said Friday.

Eunique Wesley, 32, of San Francisco, is scheduled to appear in Alameda County Superior Court in Hayward on Sept. 23 for her arraignment, according to district attorney's spokeswoman Teresa Drenick.

On June 15 at 9:40 a.m., Wesley was driving east on Fairmont Drive near Foothill Boulevard between Castro Valley and San Leandro when she looked down, allowing her car to veer to the right, the California Highway Patrol said.         

The 1995 Honda Civic hit 56-year-old Timothy Bucher, who was also
traveling east on Fairmont Drive on his bicycle. He hit his head on the car's windshield before landing in the roadway, according to the CHP. 

Bucher was wearing a helmet but still suffered major injuries. He was taken to Eden Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to the CHP.

Wesley was driving about 35 mph at the time of the collision, the
CHP said.

Probation Department officials weren't immediately available for
comment Friday on whether Wesley is continuing to work for the county.        

Dave Campbell, the program director for the East Bay Bicycle
Coalition, said the bike group is working with the county's Public Works
Department to put bike lanes in the area where the accident occurred.    

"It's a wide and hilly road and there's plenty of room for bike
lanes," Campbell said. "There's not a space issue."

John Ackley, a Marin County resident who used to live in San Leandro and described Bucher as "one of my dearest friends," said he's a strong supporter of the proposal to put bike lanes on Fairmont Drive between Foothill Boulevard and Lake Chabot Road.

Ackley said he believes bike lanes are needed because the section of Fairmont Drive where Bucher was killed lends itself to inattentive driving because it is so wide and lightly traveled.

Bucher, Ackley said, was "a musician and music aficionado who collected musical instruments and bicycles." Ackley said Bucher lived in the East Bay his entire life, mostly in San Leandro. Bucher is survived by his wife.

Ackley said the last time he went bike riding with Bucher was on Memorial Day. He said he and Bucher planned to go to a concert the night Bucher was killed.

Ackley said he is "torn" about what the proper punishment should be for Wesley.

Wesley "didn't have any ill intent and was clearly distraught" after the crash, Ackley said.