Bohleen Pleads “Not Guilty” In Bike Crash

WALLA WALLA - Melvin Bohleen, 73, on Monday pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge of vehicular homicide for his involvement in a carbicycle collision on Middle Waitsburg Road last May that resulted in the death a Seattle cyclist.

Bohleen, of Dayton, would face 15 to 20 months in prison if convicted of the crime. His trial date is set for Dec. 6 and 7 at the Walla Walla County Courthouse.

A second legal challenge in Walla Walla County was filed against Bohleen last week. The civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of the cyclist, Sara Eustis', family for an unspecified amount of money. The lawsuit names J. Howard Eustis of Seattle and his adult daughter Stefani Page of Portland, Ore., as the family members. Eustis was 61.

The civil complaint filed alleges Bohleen's Jeep "slammed into Ms. Eustis" and that he was driving negligently or recklessly.

Bohleen is not in custody, but was ordered not to drive at his first court appearance.

Eustis had been in the Walla Walla area to celebrate her nephew's graduation from Whitman College. Eustis and her sisterin law Teresa Wolber had been riding their bicycles on Middle Waitsburg Road and a report by the Walla Walla Sheriff's Office said the women did not hear Bohleen's vehicle approaching behind them. Bohleen struck Eustis with his vehicle about 10:30 a.m. He pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road. Eustis was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement offi cials said alcohol or drugs were not part of the accident and that the reason for the crash was inattentive driving. The conditions were partly cloudy, and visibility was good. Bohleen did tell police that he had diabetes, macular degeneration and needed special permission to drive from his eye doctor, according to the report. Bohleen said he was wearing his glasses at the time.

Eustis had been wearing black shorts and a turquoise sleeveless riding jersey with several vertical stripes.

An examination of the scene showed no pre-collision attempts by Bohleen to avoid hitting the cyclist. Scratches on the pavement showed Eustis' bicycle was dragged four feet during the collision and a foam piece similar to that on Eustis' helmet was stuck in the hood of the vehicle. Finally, plastic parts removed from Eustis' body during autopsy matched parts on the Jeep.

At Bohleen's first appearance, the judge told Bohleen not to drive and determined he did not need to be in custody of law enforcement because he is not a flight risk.

Bohleen will appear at two more pre-trial hearings in court on Nov. 4 and Nov. 30.