Woman admits hitting, killing Avon Lake cyclist while driving drunk

ELYRIA — A woman who hit and killed a cyclist and civic leader while driving drunk in Avon Lake this summer pleaded guilty Monday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to charges that will send her to prison and could strip her of her driver's license for the rest of her life. Sharan Carr, 65, of Sheffield Lake, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one second-degree felony and one third-degree felony, failure to stop after an accident, a fourth-degree felony, and operating a vehicle under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor, on Monday. The failure to stop charge was amended to a lesser fourth-degree felony from a third-degree felony and a second charge of OVI, also a first-degree misdemeanor, dismissed by the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office as part of plea negotiations, Assistant Prosecutor Matt Kern said in court. Carr, who is represented by attorney Jay Milano, agreed to a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence as part of her plea. Judge Mark Betleski also told her she is likely to lose her driver's license for the rest of her life. Betleski said sentencing will be held on Jan. 10, after Carr goes through a pre-sentence investigation with the Lorain County Adult Probation Department. He told Carr that she may remain free on bond until then but warned her to show up for her PSI appointment, not to commit any new crimes and to show up at sentencing. Carr was charged with hitting and killing 66-year-old cyclist Richard "Randy" Knilans of Avon Lake with her vehicle in a crash near the intersection of Lake and Miller roads shortly before 8 p.m. June 6. Knilans was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland but died of his injuries the following day. Avon Lake police said Carr was intoxicated during the crash, though she refused a breath test after Sheffield Lake officers stopped her at Lake Road and Maplewood Avenue. Knilans was involved in community matters in Avon Lake, having served as a member and chairman of the city Planning Commission, Zoning Board and Historic Preservation Committee. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.