A 19-year-old motorist who drove into a bike lane to avoid traffic in Bradenton Beach and hit a bicyclist was sentenced to 48 months probation as a youthful offender.
Christopher N. Mundell, now 20, hit a bicyclist in February on his way to work on Longboat Key and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury and having no motor vehicle registration.
As part of Mundell’s sentencing Sept. 9, 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Deno G. Economou suspended his driver’s license for three years, carving out exceptions for work and school travel, and withheld adjudication, pending Mundell’s successful completion of probation.
Mundell also was sentenced to perform 100 hours of public service, serve on a victim impact panel and write a letter of apology to the bicyclist, who, according to a police report, suffered a shoulder injury and lacerations.
According to online court records, Mundell also will have to pay $746 in court costs and fines, including $200 for the Bradenton Beach Police Department investigation.
Economou sentenced Mundell in accordance with the state’s youthful offender law, which sets a maximum six-year sentence for eligible 18- to 21-year-olds and juveniles tried as adults.