Drunken driver sentenced to 8 years after killing bicyclist

The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Drunken driver sentenced to 8 years after killing bicyclist

By Michael Sangiacomo, The Plain Dealer
March 02, 2010, 12:51PM

AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man was sentenced today to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, explaining in Summit County Court that he had spent the night drinking before he struck and killed a man on a bicycle on Oct. 13.

Charles Wilson, 36, lost his driver's license for life and fined $6,150 for the death of Lawrence Yelding, 58, of Akron. He also pleaded guilty to drunken driving, the 6-month sentence will run at the same time as the 8-year sentence.

Police said Wilson's drove a pick-up truck through a stop sign on East Miller Avenue, then struck a utility pole and Yelding's bicycle.
Wilson told the court he got out of the disabled truck, which he took without permission from a friend, and ran away after seeing the badly injured Yelding on the ground.

Yelding died in Akron General Medical Center of his injuries.

Police arrested Wilson later, hiding behind the home of a friend. His DNA matched blood found in the truck, police said.

On Thursday he explained to Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Parker that before the 9:44 p.m. crash, he had spent the evening drinking at home and a neighborhood bar.