The driver who accidentally killed Gilroy city planner Cydney
Casper was sentenced to 200 hours of community service Wednesday in
a Salinas courtroom, convicted of vehicular manslaughter without
gross negligence.
Gilroy – The driver who accidentally killed Gilroy city planner Cydney Casper was sentenced to 200 hours of community service Wednesday in a Salinas courtroom, convicted of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.
Diane Dawson, 78, pleaded no contest to the charge. Her attorney, Larry Biegel, said the sentencing was an emotional conclusion to “a tragedy we cannot erase.” Ninety people wrote letters in support of Dawson, he said, citing her volunteer work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a nearby state park, as well as her clean driving record.
Dawson was driving to a Salinas animal shelter Dec. 2 to deliver blankets when she overlooked Casper on her new Harley Davidson and pulled ahead of her from a cross-street, knocking the 51-year-old Gilroy woman from her bike, Biegel said. Casper had bought the motorcycle only a month before her death, according to City Planning Manager Bill Faus. Her boyfriend was riding his own motorcycle ahead of her. Casper died en route to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.
“She obviously had not seen Cydney Casper,” said Biegel, “This was a tragic accident – and I want to underline the word accident.”
Sherri Hall, administrative assistant to the Monterey County district attorney, referred the Dispatch to a deputy district attorney who could not be reached by press time.
Casper’s death shook the city planning department, where she had overseen major annexation efforts, the city’s farmland preservation policy, and development guidelines for the nearly 1,700 homes planned for Glen Loma Ranch. Coworkers recalled her quiet professionalism. When planning staff learned of the accident, Faus said in December, “there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”
Casper’s daughter and son are seeking civil damages against Dawson, according to a relative, and will be represented by attorney Michael DeKruif, who was not available for comment Friday. Dawson will be represented by Santa Cruz attorney Tim Volkmann in that suit, said Biegel. Volkmann did not return calls.
Casper’s family also wrote the court expressing concern about Dawson’s driving ability, Biegel said. Vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence does not automatically restrict a driver’s license, Biegel explained.
