The trial of a driver charged with striking-and-killing a 17-year-old Team USA cyclist two years ago began on Monday with a gut-wrenching statement from the victims father.
Yeva Smilianska, 24, is accused of reckless vehicular homicide in the death of 17-year-old Magnus White, an award-winning Colorado teen who had been scheduled to race for the US national team at the upcoming world championships.
The heart-breaking trial began on Monday with opening statements from lawyers, before Michael White, the father of the prized cyclist took the stand as the first witness in the case, delivering an emotional statement about his son and the day he was killed.
When I saw him, he still had his cycling clothes on. He had dirt over the right side of his face. His head was really swollen, White said in court.
There was just so much blood coming out of his mouth and everywhere. I had to turn away.
Magnus was riding his Trek Model Emonda SL 7 bike on Colo. 119 at 12:33 pm July 29, 2023, when he was hit by Smilianska, who was driving a Toyota Matrix that had crossed from the right hand lane into the shoulder, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer.
Magnus was thrown from his bike and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The heart-breaking trial began on Monday with opening statements from lawyers, before Michael White (pictured), the father of the prized cyclist took the stand as the first witness in the case, delivering an emotional statement about his son and the day he was killed
Magnus White, 17, an award-winning cyclist who was scheduled to race for Team USA at the upcoming world championships, was hit-and-killed by a tired driver on July 29, 2023
Yeva Smilianska (pictured), 24, is accused of reckless vehicular homicide in the death of 17-year-old Magnus White
The Boulder County Coroner’s Office determined that the cyclist died from blunt force head trauma as a result of the crash, and the manner of death was ruled to be an accident, according to an arrest affidavit.
Police reported no sign of intoxication at the time of the crash, however, investigators claim that based on the totality of circumstances, it appears most likely that Smilianska was asleep at the time of the crash, according to the affidavit.
Smilianska, a Ukrainian refugee, reportedly received very little sleep the night before, claiming stayed up until about 6 am at a friends house in Longmont, the affidavit adds.
The morning of the fatal accident, Smilianska texted a friend 20 minutes prior to the crash that she was falling asleep.
Witnesses from the scene told police that they observed the Ukrainian woman veer out of the lane and onto the right shoulder multiple times before hitting the teen biker.
She told police that her car had a steering malfunction, and she did not fall asleep, according to the affidavit, adding that she did not see Magnus prior to the incident and felt fuzzy during the crash.
However, a Colorado State Patrol investigation later determined that there was not a steering malfunction in Smilianskas car, and that there was no evidence that she braked while driving toward the Team USA cyclist.
The distressed father continued gushing over his son in the opening moments of the emotional trial, telling the packed courtroom that his eldest son was the perfect mix.
When Magnus was born, the doctors said he was the perfect mix of his mother and I, White said tearfully. He took the best of both of us. He was the kind of kid who was never bored; always wanted to be active, doing something.
The Boulder County Coroner’s Office determined that the cyclist died from blunt force head trauma as a result of the crash, and the manner of death was ruled to be an accident, according to an arrest affidavit. Pictured: The inside of Yeva Smilianskas car at the scene of the accident
The distressed father continued gushing over his son in the opening moments of the emotional trial, telling the packed courtroom that his eldest son was the perfect mix. Pictured: Michael White with his son Magnus (center) and his wife
Magnus was riding his Trek Model Emonda SL 7 bike on Colo. 119 at 12:33 pm when he was hit by Smilianska, who was driving a Toyota Matrix that had crossed from the right hand lane into the shoulder, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer. Pictured: A roadside memorial created for the teen cyclist at the scene of the accident
Throughout his emotional testimony, the White paused to drink water and wipe away tears, while just above him photos of his son were displayed on a television monitor, the Denver Post reported.
White added that Magnus loved to drive his Subaru, loved skiing, was very close with his brother despite a six-year age gap.
He also said he was the first to take his son for a bike ride on the Diagonal, five years prior to his death.
I told him it was safe to ride because it has a 10-foot shoulder… "As long as you stay all the way right, youll be fine," the devastated father recalled.
Throughout his emotional testimony, the White paused to drink water and wipe away tears, while just above him photos of his son were displayed on a television monitor, the Denver Post reported.
If found guilty Smilianska faces between two and six years in prison.
She is currently free on bond and is set for a five-day jury trial this week.