A motorist is facing 12 years in state prison for the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist that he deliberately ran down following an argument near the University of Southern California campus, a prosecutor said Friday.
Andrew Williams, 33, pleaded no contest Thursday to one felony count each of voluntary manslaughter and hit-and-run driving resulting in death, according to Deputy District Attorney Miriam Avalos.
Williams was driving his SUV when he encountered bicyclist Ruben Wharton Vanegas in the 3900 block of South Vermont Avenue on Oct. 15, 2015, the prosecutor said.
The two men got into an argument over the cyclist being on the road, and Vanegas hit the SUV’s side view mirror and rode in front of the vehicle after the two exchanged words, according to testimony presented in court.
Williams then ran over the 35-year-old bicyclist and dragged him for about 50 feet, the prosecutor said. Vanegas died at the scene.
Williams — who is set to be sentenced June 20 — was arrested four days later by Los Angeles police and initially charged with murder and hit-and-run.
–City News Service