◼ Hoopa man charged in death of bicyclist
A 27-year-old Hoopa man has been charged with negligent vehicular manslaughter after he allegedly struck and killed a bicycle commuter in August 2008.
Alan Bear faces charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, providing false information to a police officer and making an unsafe lane change for an Aug. 25 incident that killed 42-year-old bicyclist and local botanist Gregory Jennings.
According to information found in Bear's court file, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and has hired criminal defense attorney Manny Daskal.
According to information from the California Highway Patrol, Bear was driving his 2002 Nissan pickup truck eastbound on 299 when he allowed his car to drift to the right side of the road onto the paved shoulder, hitting Jennings.
Jennings was ejected from his bicycle and landed on the grass. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Humboldt County Coroner's Office reported a witness who was driving down the road behind Bear saw the accident and said Jennings was wearing colorful clothing and was far off to the side of the road.
Bear was reportedly arrested at the scene, but according to staff at the Humboldt County jail, he was not booked into the jail.
According to court records, investigators are analyzing blood samples in an ongoing effort to determine whether drugs or alcohol were a contributing factor.
Bear will return to court June 3 for an intervention hearing, and again June 10 for a preliminary hearing.
Related post: ◼ Open Thread: Any info on the cyclist who was killed on 299 near Blue Lake a few months ago?
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