West Hollywood, California (July 22, 2010) - A Beverly Hills teen pleaded no contest to hit and run charges stemming from a December 1, 2009 accident in which she hit a cyclist, injuring him severely. 
Celine Mahdavi pleaded no contest to hit and run charges stemming from a December 1, 2009 accident in which she hit a cyclist, injuring him severely. WeHo News. |
Celine Mahdavi, now 19, struck down professional bicyclist Louis “Birdman” Deliz at the intersection of Holloway and La Cienega Boulevard at 12:15 am on December 1, 2009, leaving the scene only to be stopped and arrested at Holloway and Palm Ave., a short way west.
Mr. Deliz, who biked professionally and for his commuting, spent 11 days in ICU, 9 days in a coma and 49 days in the hospital recovering from massive injuries to his face, hands and hips.
His professional cycling days are over.
Judge Eldon Fox issued a sentence of one day in jail, and given credit for one day served, and placed on 36 months formal (supervised) probation.
A restitution hearing and progress report have been scheduled for Jan 18, 2011.
The bicycling community saw the case as a way to highlight the dangers of commuting by bicycle in Los Angeles, where the car has reigned supreme as for 70 years.
Celine Mahdavi, now 19, struck down professional bicyclist Louis “Birdman” Deliz at the intersection of Holloway and La Cienega Boulevard at 12:15 am on December 1, 2009. Photo courtesy bikesidela.org. WeHo News. |
One bicycle safety activist, Jeremy Grant, told WeHo News that he observed every hearing in the trial and that the no contest plea, a product of a plea bargain struck in judge’s chambers at Tuesday’s hearing in Beverly Hills Courthouse, left him disappointed.
“We hoped for a not guilty plea and a trial,” he said, “she shouldn’t be let off with a slap on the wrist; look what she did to the Birdman.
“The officer who testified about seeing the Birdman at the scene said it was grotesque, with exposed veins and tendons on his face and neck,” he said.
Mr. Grant said, “The deputy testified that she showed no remorse; only cared about what might happen to her and never asked about the Birdman. And she gets probation?”
Professional bicyclist Louis “Birdman” Deliz racing for Team LaGrange. Photo courtesy bikesidela.org. WeHo News. |
The plea and sentence come one day after Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa suffered a broken elbow from a bicycle accident on Venice Boulevard.
The Mayor was in the bike lane and took a tumble when a cab cut him off making a right turn.
That spill comes at a time when LAPD investigates an alleged beating of a bicyclist by a cop and mounting pressure from bicycle activists to implement a bicycle commuter safety strategy.
The former incident caused creation of a special LAPD task force to address biking issues; the latter has the Mayor’s office investigating ways to join with cities in the region to create safer bike lanes and routes.
See West Hollywood forming Bicycle Task Force for more on the creation of a regional task force to develop safer bikeways.
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