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Cyclist Gets Probation In Death Of San Francisco Pedestrian

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — A Marin County man who pleaded guilty to striking and killing a 71-year-old pedestrian with his bicycle in San Francisco last year was sentenced Thursday to probation and community service.

37-year-old Chris Bucchere was sentenced to three years probation and 1,000 hours of community service for the death of Sutchi Hui. Last month, Bucchere accepted a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to one count of felony vehicular manslaughter.

According to prosecutors, Bucchere ran a stop sign and several traffic lights while riding his bicycle along Castro Street on the morning of March 29, 2012. Hui was hit by Bucchere in a crosswalk at the intersection of Castro and Market and died several days later.

Man Sentenced To Probation And Community Service For Killing Pedestrian With Bicycle In San Francisco

His family said they did not want Bucchere to serve jail time. The felony conviction was the first of its kind in the nation involving a bicyclist.

"We all have a responsibility if you're a pedestrian, a cyclist or a motorist. Traffic fatalities are not accidental when people are violating the rules of the road," said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon.

Terry Hui, Sutchi's son, addressed the court and said he hopes something good comes from all of this. He asked that Bucchere spend his community service hours helping the elderly, building housing for the less fortunate, and caring for victims of brain trauma.

He said his father was a kind man, uncle, a husband and a grandfather, as well as a successful Chinatown businessman.

"We hope that the defendant actually takes this opportunity to become an actual, to be a better person," said Hui.  "I know the type of father, the type of person my father was.  He always taught me to give people a second chance, no matter what happens because that's what makes society civil."
"If we all seek revenge for wrongs that people have done to us, you know, an eye for an eye, we'd all be blind," he added.

Family of Man Killed by Bicyclist in SF Crosswalk Hope Experience Changes Defendant's Life

Bucchere declined to address the court during the sentencing hearing.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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