Not Guilty Plea Entered in Crash that Hurt Pro Cyclist

A Rohnert Park man pleaded not guilty this morning to felony reckless driving and hit-and-run charges in on a backroad outside of Healdsburg last month.

Arthur Ben Yu, 36, entered the pleas in Sonoma County Superior
Court. He also pleaded not guilty to auto theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license.

He is being held in Sonoma County Jail on $85,000 bail. A preliminary hearing date will be set Wednesday.

Yu's 1996 Honda was traveling north on Pine Flat Road northeast of Healdsburg at 15 to 20 mph when the collision occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on June 29, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Yu cut the corner on a right curve in the road and drove into the
path of 25-year-old Michael Torckler, who was riding south on his Pinarello bicycle, CHP officials said.

Torckler was ejected from the bicycle, struck the Honda's windshield and fell onto the pavement, according to CHP.

A passenger in the Honda stayed at the scene to check on Torckler
but Yu drove away, according to the CHP. Yu was arrested the next day when his roommate, who was not the passenger in the Honda, called the CHP.

Torckler, a New Zealand resident who races for the Bissell Pro
Cycling team based in Santa Rosa, suffered wounds to his face.

Chief Deputy District Attorney William Brockley said it remains
under investigation whether Yu was intoxicated.

Brockley said Yu faces nine years and eight months in prison on
the four charges.

Yu's father reported the 1996 Honda stolen a month ago, Brockley
said.

Yu has previous felony convictions for felony burglary, receiving
stolen property, and grand theft auto dating back to 1998. He served at least four years in prison, according to court records.

--By Bay City News Service.