An Arlington man accused of driving a van that struck and killed a bicyclist on Sept. 7 pleaded guilty Wednesday to a crime that could put him behind bars for up to four years.
Wayne Edward Moran, 60, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 12.
His attorney said he will seek a special sentencing alternative that will allow him to spend less time in prison and then seek alcohol treatment.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of being involved in a hit-and-run accident with a fatality, an offense similar to vehicular homicide.
He was accused of running down bicyclist James Zentz, 44, of Everett, who had been riding a bicycle with a friend about 1 a.m. on Highway 204 near 81st Avenue SE, an area between Frontier Village and Everett.
According to court papers, Moran and Zentz were at the same tavern prior to the collision.
Zentz and a companion were riding bicycles in the highway’s westbound lane when Zentz was struck from behind. Moran briefly stopped, asked if Zentz was all right and then left.
Washington State Patrol detectives tracked Moran down after the defendant telephoned police to ask about the accident but didn’t leave his name.
At first, he told officers his driving wasn’t impaired by his drinking and he struck the bicyclist because he was blinded by another vehicle’s headlights.
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