The 27-year-old Seattle man driving that car that struck and killed bicyclist and Queen Anne resident John Leoni near his Lower QA home last July has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, according to a report by our news partner, The Seattle Times.
The accident happened just after 10 p.m. on July 1, 2009 when driver John Dempsey Morris turned off of Aurora Ave N onto Dexter Way N and struck Leoni at nearly 65 mph as he was crossing an unmarked crosswalk, according to charging documents obtained by the Times. Leoni, who was 35 years old, died at the scene.
Morris told police that he had drunk about four beers earlier in the night, charging paperwork said. Seattle police found that his blood-alcohol level was below the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Seattle police said that Morris’ 1985 Porsche 944 Coupe struck Leoni in an unmarked crosswalk. Traffic investigators say if Morris had been traveling at 40 mph, the limit on Aurora Avenue North, he would have been able to stop in time to avoid the collision, according to court charging paperwork.
According to the Times, Morris has no prior criminal history, and if convicted could face up to 20 months in prison.
Leoni had been employed at Banchero Friends Services, a nonprofit organization that works with developmentally disabled adults, and was reportedly on his way home for the day when the accident occurred. From the Times:
“He provided 24-hour in-home and out-of-home support and case management for adults who have developmental disabilities,” said CaraLee Cook, executive director of the Seattle organization. “He was an excellent employee and passionate about his work. He was very well loved.”