Woman guilty of killing cyclist while texting

WAUSAU - A Rib Lake woman was found guilty Monday of homicide by reckless driving after she was accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist while texting and driving near Marshfield.

As part of the plea agreement, Lorie Ann M. Miller, 55, will likely serve nine months in jail and nine years on probation for the July 2015 death of Donna E. David, 52, of Marshfield. During the plea hearing, Marathon County Assistant District Attorney Kyle R. Mayo said David's family does not agree with the plea agreement and would be sending victim impact statements or speaking during Miller's sentencing.

David, who taught chemistry at Northcentral Technical College and was a researcher with the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, was killed July 13, 2015, while riding her bicycle along Marathon County T in the town of McMillan, north of Marshfield, according to police reports.

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Miller's SUV collided with David's bike on a straight stretch of road on a clear day where there was nothing to obstruct her view of the road, according to court records. Neither she nor David had been drinking, according to blood tests completed after the crash.

Miller initially told police that she didn't know how she could have hit David, and she denied using her phone at the time of the crash. Police retrieved data from her phone showing that she had been texting a friend about three minutes before witnesses phoned 911 to report the crash. The text had been deleted, but police found it using special software, according to court records.

Miller at first denied texting while driving but then said she couldn't remember when a deputy confronted her with the evidence. She told deputies she wanted to die and take David's place, according to records.

Marathon County Circuit Judge Jill Falstad said she has no way of knowing anything about Miller because Miller has no prior criminal record. Falstad ordered a presentence investigation to be completed to gather relevant information regarding Miller and the fatal crash. Miller faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if Falstad decides not to follow the attorneys' recommendation.

You can contact reporter Karen Madden at 715-424-7308, karen.madden@gannettwisconsin.com or follow her on Twitter@KMadden715 .