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Woman gets jail time for hitting, killing beloved Parker cyclist

"Drivers who injure or kill because of an avoidable choice should get more than a slap on the wrist."
Credit: Courtesy Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Beth Young, 54, has been charged in the death of a cyclist who the Douglas County Sheriff's Office says was hit by a distracted driver while riding in the bike lane of a Parker road.

KUSA — KUSA – The woman who hit and killed a bicyclist while she was driving on a Parker road last year was sentenced Friday to 30 days of jail time – something somewhat unusual.

“In most cases, judges don’t impose jail time in these cases,” Douglas County Judge Monica Gomez said during the sentencing hearing for 55-year-old Beth Young. “But [in] this culture, we have learned to accept that distracted driving is normal, where an individual does not receive punishment.

“I feel we may be getting too comfortable with that.”

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Young hit 53-year-old John “Jake” Kirby on Nov. 27 while he was riding his bike on Hess Road. Young says she was distracted when she tried to push the off button on her vehicle’s stereo system, according to the arrest affidavit in the case.

Kirby, a beloved father who leaves behind a fiancée, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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In addition to jail time, Young received two years of supervised probation and 300 hours of community service. She pleaded guilty to careless driving resulting in death on March 15.

“Drivers who injure or kill because of an avoidable choice should get more than a slap on the wrist,” Kirby’s stepmother said during Young’s sentencing hearing.

Ten of Kirby’s family members addressed the court.

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