March 10, 2008
Sheriff's Deputy In Fatal Bicyclist Crash, Asleep at the Wheel?

Alas, it was not a good weekend for cyclists of the Bay Area.
The sheriff's deputy that accidentally crashed into three cyclists in Cupertinio over the weekend -- a collision that killed Olympic hopeful 31-year-old Kristy Gough of Oakland (the third-fastest, non-professional women's triathlete in the world); and 30-year-old Matt Peterson of San Francisco -- has been identified as 27-year-old James Council.
A deputy at the West Valley Patrol Division of Santa Clara County, Council, it seems, was traveling northbound on Stevens Creek Road at approximately around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. His patrol car somehow crossed the center divide, which then struck three cyclists heading southbound.
According to a good Samaritan at the scene, Bryce Renshaw, who came to the aid of the victims, officer James Council might have been asleep at the wheel at the time of the fatal collision. "I saw the officer pacing back and forth on the roadway. He said 'I must have fallen asleep,'" Renshaw tells the San Jose Mercury News.
Council, who has been a sheriff's deputy for only 18 months, has since been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation into what really happened continues. Wow. An unfortunate situation for all parties involved.
Photo image of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's car that struck bicyclists: CBS 5


I think it bears (bares? this phrase makes no sense) repeating that "As is customary when a local law enforcement officer is involved in a fatal crash, the deputy was placed on paid administrative leave and the California Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation."
So, no guilt on the guy yet. But if he was sleeping? Bad news bears(bares).
..."bears repeating" - http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002241.html
It should be noted, as well, that the riders were clearly very experienced, so it's difficult to see this as being anything other than the fault of the deputy. Absolute pity all the way around.
Updated story:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/10/BACTVH7DF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Can I blatantly kill two people and get a paid vacation, too?