Bicyclist Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter In Pedestrian's Death

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A bicyclist charged in the death of a woman authorities say he hit in a San Francisco crosswalk is free on his own recognizance after pleading not guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that prosecutors had asked that Randolph Ang be held on $15,000 bail, but a judge released him on his own recognizance during a hearing Wednesday.

Prosecutors say the 23-year-old Ang ran a red light on his bicycle and hit 68-year-old Dionette Cherney as she crossed a street on July 15.

Cherney, who was visiting from Washington, D.C., died of head injuries in a hospital nearly a month later.

Prosecutors charged Ang with a misdemeanor because investigators determined that he did not deliberately hit Cherney and that there was no gross negligence.

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press)