No charges will be filed against the 22-year-old Danville man whose car police say strayed into a San Ramon bike lane in July – striking and ultimately killing a respected NFL assistant coach out for an afternoon ride near his off-season home.
San Ramon police told DanvilleSanRamon.com on Thursday that the county District Attorney’s Office had opted not to bring charges in the death of Greg Knapp, 58, saying that although driver inattention had been determined as the cause of the collision the unidentified driver’s actions did not meet the criteria needed to establish criminal culpability.
“The Office of the District Attorney has determined that there is insufficient evidence to satisfy the requisite standard of criminal negligence on the part of the suspect driver,” the DA’s office said in a statement.
Knapp was biking near his part-time home in Danville the afternoon of July 17 when he was struck at a busy intersection, suffering major head and body injuries. He never regained consciousness and was declared deceased at a local hospital five days later.
The driver of the car that hit Knapp remained at the scene of the collision and cooperated with investigators, who said neither drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
“Bicycle fatalities are devastating events,” the DA’s office said in their statement. “Following thorough review of the investigation, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that there is insufficient evidence to satisfy the requisite standard of criminal negligence on the part of the suspect driver. The dangers of distracted driving are well known; to truly promote road safety, motorists need to be attentive drivers as well.”
Knapp, a 58-year-old married father of three daughters and longtime NFL offensive coach set to begin his first season as passing game specialist for the New York Jets, was riding his bicycle on Dougherty Road in eastern San Ramon just north of North Monarch Road around 2:50 p.m. July 17 when he was struck by a vehicle traveling in the same northbound direction.
Accident investigators determined that Knapp was well within his bike lane and was wearing a helmet when he was hit.
Never any charges in veh vs cyclist unless the driver is impaired. Ride on the street you place your life in the hands of the drivers around you. Sit at any intersection and look at the drivers around you, so many doing all sorts of stuff and not paying attention. Rode and raced for a couple decades but after my third hit from a car I sold all my road bikes.
Yes many cyclists are just as guilty of not following the rules of the road but the cyclist is always the loser regardless.
Three times… wow.
Yes 3, over many years and countless near misses. Thankfully just lots of road rash, but the last one cost me my bike and months of fighting with their insurance to get it replaced. All three were pretty much the same, me in bike lane overtaken by car that then turns right into me. All three drivers said they never saw me, even though they passed me…my summation is bikes and motorcycles don’t register with most drivers unless they are riders themselves.
RIP Coach
I completely agree. I don’t ride on roads where cars and trucks are allowed for this reason and I only run on roads with very light or no traffic. And no, we don’t register with people whizzing past us in cars that could easily crush us. All that said I’m very surprised there are no charges in this case. A man was killed. At least one infraction was committed. Or am I missing something?
Agree
Ya well we need to figure this stuff out: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-16-year-old-driving-a-truck-ran-over-multiple-cyclists-after-he-allegedly-attempted-to-blow-exhaust-on-them/ar-AAOQvWv?ocid=Peregrine
Why not even involuntary manslaughter, a year at Club Fed, wreckless driving and probation?
I understand that conviction is a HIGH bar in these cases, but dayum! “Inattentive driving” or inattentive anything with something so lethal cannot go without consequences. Hopefully, a civil suit will bring some accountability.
If no jail time at least a years worth of driver education.