The Times of San Diego reports that a man charged on suspicion of DUI after a crash in Balboa Park left a bicyclist dead pleaded guilty to the charge last week.
Court documents indicate that the fatal crash happened on July 20, 2021, at approximately 7:30 a.m. when 39-year-old Adam David Milavetz struck 57-year-old Laura Shinn, Architect and Director of Facilities Planning at San Diego State University. Investigators say that the victim had been riding in the designated bike lane of Pershing Drive at the time of the crash.
Paramedics rushed Shinn to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest. Despite all life-saving efforts by doctors and medical staff, Scripps died shortly after she arrived at the hospital.
Detective Michael Gottfried with the San Diego Police Department said that the investigation revealed that Milavetz swerved into the bike lane, where he struck the victim. Initially, Milavetz told police that the sun had been in his eyes, causing the crash.
According to a statement from Deputy District Attorney Kelsey Hollander, immediately following the crash, Milavetz got out of his car, ran across the street, and threw a bag over a fence. Police officers later recovered the bag that contained several smaller bags of methamphetamine.
Milavetz remained at the scene while San Diego Police Department officers searched his vehicle. Inside they found more methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drug paraphernalia.
Milavetz was arrested and taken into custody. The District Attorney’s Office ordered the suspect to stand trial for murder.
The victim’s widower filed a civil suit against Milavetz and the San Diego Association of Government, saying that the bicycle paths in Balboa Park are insufficient to protect bicyclists.
On Thursday, January 5, Milavetz pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He is scheduled to be sentenced sometime in February and faces up to 13 years in state prison.
