Driver charged in death of cyclist in canyon

A driver has been charged with a misdemeanor in connection with the death of a 25-year-old bicyclist in Big Cottonwood Canyon four months ago.

Elizabeth M. DeSeelhorst, 66, was charged with one count of class A misdemeanor negligent homicide on Thursday in Sandy's 3rd District Court. If convicted, she faces a year in jail and a fine.

The charge stems from a Sept. 18 incident that killed Josie Johnson, who was biking in the area when she allegedly was struck by DeSeelhorst's vehicle.

DeSeelhorst's first court date is a Feb. 18 initial appearance.

Johnson was biking eastbound up the canyon in the late afternoon on a day that was sunny and dry, with a light wind, according to the charging document. That part of the road going up Big Cottonwood Canyon is two lanes with a gravel shoulder that has a slight curve, the document said.

"There are no obstructions on the curve, and the victim would have been visible to motorists for a substantial distance," the document states.

A reconstruction of the accident by a Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy shows DeSeelhorst was driving east outside the marked lane with her right wheels touching the gravel shoulder when she hit Johnson, the document said.

There were no skid marks, and the impact hit Johnson and her bike in the center of DeSeelhorst's vehicle, the document said.

Todd Grey, Utah's chief medical examiner, said Johnson died of head injuries.

Robert Stott, of the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, said it took a while to file the charges because the district attorney wanted to get an accident reconstruction. "We also had physical evidence that had to be examined and analyzed," Stott said.

The charge against DeSeelhorst was filed one day after bicyclists lobbied at the Utah Capitol for a bicycle safety bill that would require motorists to stay 3 feet away when passing bicyclists.

---

E-mail: lindat@desnews.com