From the Marin Independent Journal
Marin motorist denies blame in bicyclist's fall
By Nancy Isles Nation
San Anselmo man pleads not guilty to felony charge
A San Anselmo man who is part of a prominent Marin family pleaded not guilty yesterday to felony hit and run in connection with an incident in which a bicyclist said he was blinded.
James Arrigoni, 44, the son of former Marin County supervisor Peter Arrigoni, faces three years in state prison if he is convicted.
He was charged with one count of felony hit and run and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving causing great bodily injury in an incident that occurred Feb. 26 in San Anselmo.
Arrigoni is accused of striking Torrin Arnold, 25, of San Anselmo, with his green Chevrolet Silverado in what witnesses said appeared to be a deliberate action. According to a police report, witnesses said Arnold pulled in front of Arrigoni to make a left-hand turn on Red Hill Avenue near Essex Avenue. Arrigoni's truck seemed to swerve toward Arnold in a way that could have caused the bicyclist to lose his balance, witnesses said. They said they saw Arnold's bicycle slip from underneath him after the two collided.
One witness said it looked like Arrigoni was trying "to make a statement with his vehicle," according to the police report.
Arnold complained at the scene of pain in his back and neck and was taken to Marin General Hospital, where he was kept overnight for evaluation, according to police reports.
Arnold told a doctor he later began seeing spots in his vision and lost most of his sight, according to a physician's report provided by the family. The May 5 report concluded Arnold has some peripheral vision but no center vision.
Arrigoni told police he became upset when Arnold crossed lanes in front of him and made an obscene gesture as he prepared to make a left-hand turn off of Red Hill Avenue. He said he accelerated to have a word with Arnold, who began to lose his balance. Arrigoni told police he believed Arnold was trying to steady himself on the side mirror of the pickup.
Arrigoni said he panicked and drove off to get away from the bicycle. From his rear-view mirror, he saw Arnold wobble and then fall, the police report said.
As he was driving west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Arrigoni said he realized there had been an accident and he should not have left the scene. He decided to drive to the San Anselmo Police Department to turn himself in when two other cars sped up behind him, cut him off and began yelling at him, saying he hit someone and needed to return to the scene.
Arrigoni told the two drivers he was going to the police station and they escorted him.
Outside of the courtroom yesterday, Arrigoni's attorney, Paul Burglin, said he and his client hope that Arnold recovers whatever vision he has lost.
"We support the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and the rights of bicyclists," Burglin said. "Mr. Arrigoni feels terrible about it but he is not some crazed motorist who ran down a bicyclist."
Burglin said it was an accident.
"An accident is not a crime," Burglin said. Arnold, whose supporters have urged the District Attorney's Office to prosecute Arrigoni to the fullest extent, said he is satisfied with the charges that have been filed.
"I have absolute faith in the Marin County District Attorney's Office," Arnold said. "They are taking this case seriously."
Eric Anderson of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition said the Fairfax-based organization is happy with the way the case is going.
"There is a lot of attention countywide and nationwide," Anderson said. "We think it's a great opportunity for the county to send a message that aggressive driving is not acceptable and will not be tolerated."
Arrigoni is due back in court July 15 for a preliminary hearing.
By Nancy Isles Nation
San Anselmo man pleads not guilty to felony charge
A San Anselmo man who is part of a prominent Marin family pleaded not guilty yesterday to felony hit and run in connection with an incident in which a bicyclist said he was blinded.
James Arrigoni, 44, the son of former Marin County supervisor Peter Arrigoni, faces three years in state prison if he is convicted.
He was charged with one count of felony hit and run and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving causing great bodily injury in an incident that occurred Feb. 26 in San Anselmo.
Arrigoni is accused of striking Torrin Arnold, 25, of San Anselmo, with his green Chevrolet Silverado in what witnesses said appeared to be a deliberate action. According to a police report, witnesses said Arnold pulled in front of Arrigoni to make a left-hand turn on Red Hill Avenue near Essex Avenue. Arrigoni's truck seemed to swerve toward Arnold in a way that could have caused the bicyclist to lose his balance, witnesses said. They said they saw Arnold's bicycle slip from underneath him after the two collided.
One witness said it looked like Arrigoni was trying "to make a statement with his vehicle," according to the police report.
Arnold complained at the scene of pain in his back and neck and was taken to Marin General Hospital, where he was kept overnight for evaluation, according to police reports.
Arnold told a doctor he later began seeing spots in his vision and lost most of his sight, according to a physician's report provided by the family. The May 5 report concluded Arnold has some peripheral vision but no center vision.
Arrigoni told police he became upset when Arnold crossed lanes in front of him and made an obscene gesture as he prepared to make a left-hand turn off of Red Hill Avenue. He said he accelerated to have a word with Arnold, who began to lose his balance. Arrigoni told police he believed Arnold was trying to steady himself on the side mirror of the pickup.
Arrigoni said he panicked and drove off to get away from the bicycle. From his rear-view mirror, he saw Arnold wobble and then fall, the police report said.
As he was driving west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Arrigoni said he realized there had been an accident and he should not have left the scene. He decided to drive to the San Anselmo Police Department to turn himself in when two other cars sped up behind him, cut him off and began yelling at him, saying he hit someone and needed to return to the scene.
Arrigoni told the two drivers he was going to the police station and they escorted him.
Outside of the courtroom yesterday, Arrigoni's attorney, Paul Burglin, said he and his client hope that Arnold recovers whatever vision he has lost.
"We support the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and the rights of bicyclists," Burglin said. "Mr. Arrigoni feels terrible about it but he is not some crazed motorist who ran down a bicyclist."
Burglin said it was an accident.
"An accident is not a crime," Burglin said. Arnold, whose supporters have urged the District Attorney's Office to prosecute Arrigoni to the fullest extent, said he is satisfied with the charges that have been filed.
"I have absolute faith in the Marin County District Attorney's Office," Arnold said. "They are taking this case seriously."
Eric Anderson of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition said the Fairfax-based organization is happy with the way the case is going.
"There is a lot of attention countywide and nationwide," Anderson said. "We think it's a great opportunity for the county to send a message that aggressive driving is not acceptable and will not be tolerated."
Arrigoni is due back in court July 15 for a preliminary hearing.
1 Comments:
what's the current? shall we organize a good old fashioned grassroots (angry mob with torches) effort to have words with Mr. Arrigoni?
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