The trial for Sandra Arlia, a Morgan Hill resident accused of
vehicular manslaughter, was delayed Monday.
The trial for Sandra Arlia, a Morgan Hill resident accused of vehicular manslaughter, was delayed Monday.
At a readiness hearing Friday, in which Arlia, 67, and prosecutors appeared to determine if both sides were prepared to go to trial as scheduled Monday, the jury proceeding was delayed until Oct. 14, according to Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office spokeswoman Lisa McCrary.
Before the trial, a new readiness hearing was scheduled for Thursday, McCrary said.
Arlia, 67, is accused of accidentally killing Rory Tomasello, 22 of Morgan Hill, in a traffic collision on West Edmundson Avenue Oct. 23, 2009.
Police say Arlia struck Tomasello with her Cadillac sport-utility vehicle as Tomasello was riding his bicycle through the mid-block crosswalk in front of the Centennial Recreation Center.
Tomasello, 22 of Morgan Hill, was not wearing a helmet. He was conscious at the scene of the accident, but was disoriented and transported to the hospital with redness on his neck and stomach, and complaints of pain. The Live Oak High School graduate, who friends described as a creative and aspiring playwright, died as a result of his injuries Nov. 2, 2009.
If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Arlia faces up to one year in county jail.
Last week, Arlia’s attorney Jaime Leanos said “everyone” involved in the case agrees Tomasello’s death was a “tragic accident.”
The incident also sparked a flurry of lawsuits and complaints in civil courts and within two public agencies – the city of Morgan Hill and Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Arlia as well as the victim’s parents have claimed the two agencies are partially to blame for the accident because of the allegedly unsafe design of the crosswalk and bike path where Tomasello and Arlia collided.
Complaints against the SCVWD were dismissed, and the city has denied all responsibility.
In addition, Tomasello’s parents, Tom and Kathee Tomasello, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Arlia which is still working its way through the civil courts.
