Three years in prison have been handed down to a woman who was found guilty of causing the death of a professional cyclist who was 17 years old in Colorado.
Yeva Smilianska was judged to be responsible for the murder of Magnus White, a cyclist representing Team USA, in 2023. She was found guilty of reckless vehicular homicide related to the incident.
Smilianska had been drinking and had stayed up until the early morning hours before she struck White, as evidenced by the text messages and videos that she had sent and received on her cell phone. He was on his way to compete in the world championships by way of a training ride on Highway 119 in Boulder. He was scheduled to take part in the competition in a few days.
Along with an obligatory parole period of three years, she was given a sentence of four years in prison out of a possible six years for his death, which was handed down on Friday. Magnus’s parents, Jill and Michael White, issued a statement in which they acknowledged their family’s grief about the punishment sentenced to Magnus.
“Today, the driver who killed our son Magnus was sentenced to 4 years in jail for felony vehicular homicide. This outcome is devastating.
The sentence handed down does not reflect the gravity of her choices, or the life that was stolen. She stayed up all night, mixing prescription drugs with alcohol, drinking whiskey into the morning, and very likely using cocaine. Then she got behind the wheel and killed our son. She lied to the police. She lied to investigators. She was never drug tested, but Magnus was.
Our son is gone forever. The system that failed him that day, has failed him again today.
This was also never just about one driver. From day one, this case exposed systemic breakdowns: lost evidence, protocols failed to be followed, no sobriety testing, no urgency. Magnus was failed by more than one person. He was failed by a process that protects reckless drivers over innocent victims.
We are heartbroken. We are furious. And we are not done. We are calling on lawmakers, advocates, and every person who believes this is unacceptable to stand with us. Demand mandatory blood draws in fatal and serious injury crashes. Demand real investigative standards. Demand a system that values human life over bureaucratic convenience.
So many things failed Magnus that day. The sentence today is one more failure. We will continue to fight for Magnus, and for so many like him.”
According to the District Attorney Michael Dougherty, the number of deaths that occur among cyclists in Colorado is concerningly high, and the state must take measures to ensure the safety of cyclists while they are on the road. He stated that the judge had the ability to sentence Smilianska to probation and community service, and he praised the White family for their perseverance in their pursuit of justice.
“Today, the law did not come up to the level of the loss. In my opinion, that is a valid point. On the other hand, I am relieved that the judge decided to condemn her to a period of state jail,” Dougherty remarked.
The White family expressed their satisfaction with the fact that the judge decided to send Smilianska to jail rather than merely probation, but they did not believe that the penalty was appropriate for the crime. We were requesting a period of six years. According to Jill White, “that was our hope for providing genuine accountability.” “Four years in state prison is pretty close to that.”
When it comes to a person’s life, how about a sentence of six years on probation? The life of Magnus is equivalent to four years. The system, the attitudes, and the culture of the drivers all need to be altered. Instead of elevating the rights of the defendant, it is necessary to boost the rights of the victims. Even that range of sentencing is unacceptable, according to Michael White, who mentioned the situation.
Dougherty explained that Smilianska passed out while driving as a result of the combination of alcohol, prescription drugs, and weariness. He urged for adjustments and increased accountability in the sentencing process for situations that are comparable to the one she has been involved in. It was stated by Dougherty that Smilianska never expressed her regret to the White family and did not appear to have any sorrow for the actions that she brought about.
This was a tragic and heartbreaking death, and the loss of a small boy was a terrible, awful tragedy. In light of this, he said that it is a ridiculous notion that the defendant and her companions are snapping selfies during the trial and then putting them on social media for everyone, including the relatives of the victim, to view.
When asked about this, Smilianska responded, “No matter what I look like on the outside, I am living through this grief deeply.” This is not the case.
