Healdsburg Man Convicted In Retrial Of Bicyclist's Death

SANTA ROSA, CA — A Sonoma County jury Thursday convicted a Healdsburg man of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter of a bicyclist who was participating in a charity ride in 2016. Courtney Rudin, 75, of Healdsburg, was charged on July 25, 2017 with the death of bicycle rider Amy Suyama, 55, of Sebastopol, on Eastside Road near Windsor River Road in west Sonoma County.

Suyama was participating in the Tour de Fuzz charity bicycle ride Sept. 10, 2016 that benefited chaplains in Sonoma County. A previous jury earlier this year was deadlocked 10-2, and the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office decided to re-try Rudin.

Rudin was driving a 2004 Chevrolet truck south on Eastside Road when he came upon a slow-moving truck, the California Highway Patrol said. As Rudin began to pass the truck over broken yellow lines, he approached Suyama and her friend Andrew Dean who were riding north toward him, the CHP said.

The issue at both trials was whether Rudin was negligent and his driving was responsible for Suyama's death. Both Suyama and Dean fell to the ground when Rudin passed them.

Suyama was taken to a hospital, but her condition deteriorated and she died around 11:50 a.m.

Rudin's attorney Steve Spiegelman said there was no evidence Rudin's truck struck either cyclist.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said tire marks were found on Suyama's jersey, but the prosecution is not required to prove actual contact.

"His (Rudin's) choice was negligent and it was the proximate cause of death of this young lady," Ravitch said.

Rudin faces up to a year in the Sonoma County Jail when he is sentenced Sept. 18. Spiegelman said Rudin, who did not testify at the retrial, is in poor health and likely will not serve time in the Sonoma County Jail.

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• Cyclist Killed In Weekend Tour De Fuzz Ride Identified
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— Bay City News Service