Jury convicts driver who killed Boulder cyclist Magnus White, 17

A verdict was reached on Friday night in the case of the driver who tragically struck and killed 17-year-old cycling star Magnus White almost two years ago in Boulder County.

Yeva Smilianska, 24, was found guilty of reckless vehicular homicide for the incident that took the life of the USA Cycling junior cyclist on Colo. 119 in July 2023.

Smilianska, currently out of custody, is set to be sentenced on June 13. She could face a two to six-year prison sentence, which is probation-eligible, according to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.

The fatal collision occurred when White was cycling southbound on Colo. 119, just south of the 63rd Street intersection in Boulder County, and was struck by Smilianska’s Toyota Matrix that had veered from the righthand lane onto the shoulder, as per Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer.

Following the crash, White was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators mentioned in an arrest affidavit that it seemed likely that Smilianska was asleep at the time of the accident.

After the verdict, White’s parents addressed the media outside the Boulder County Justice Center.

“We want to start with Magnus because it was his life that was stolen. He was our boy, our beautiful, beautiful boy and brother,” Magnus’s mother, Jill, expressed during the press conference.

Jill White shared poignant memories of her son, including the routine of rubbing his feet each night, something she did the last time she saw him before his untimely passing.

“He was a leader on the bike, he was a leader off the bike. So many of his friends looked up to him and considered him a best friend,” Jill White added.

The Whites also criticized the response of various agencies to the accident, particularly the Colorado State Patrol.

“Make no mistake, that driver killed Magnus, but the trial revealed something else: the systemic failure by those whose job it is to protect the public,” Michael White, Magnus’s father, pointed out.

He highlighted issues such as CSP being understaffed, failure to follow protocols, and the fact that Smilianska was not subjected to a drug test, whereas his son was.

“A state trooper visited us at the hospital later that day as we held onto the last moments of our son’s life. We thought she would tell us they were investigating the driver who killed our son, and instead, we were told the driver did everything right. It was incredibly hurtful and left us wondering if Magnus’s death was even being taken seriously,” Michael White shared.

‘Magnus’ death was not a accident, it was a crime’

During the media briefing, Michael White emphasized the presence of cocaine in evidence that was later redacted. He also mentioned that the jury did not have access to text conversations where Smilianska discussed purchasing cocaine on the day of the crash.

White stressed that the mention of cocaine should have been considered in the case, pointing out that Magnus’s death was not an accident but a crime.

“Please continue to walk with us and speak Magnus’s name and stand with every family whose loved one was stolen from them by a reckless or careless driver,” Michael White emotionally appealed. “We’ll never stop missing our Magnus, and we will never stop fighting for him.”

In honor of Magnus White, his parents established a nonprofit called “The White Line” to honor his legacy and promote cycling safety.

“That ‘shutdown’ — that wasn’t seeing Magnus, that was her exhaustion”

Deputy District Attorney Trish Mittelstadt presented the case to the jury, highlighting Smilianska’s reckless driving behavior that led to White’s death.

Mittelstadt described how Smilianska, after a night of drinking and little sleep, crashed into White’s bicycle, causing his tragic demise.

She emphasized that Smilianska consciously ignored the risks and made a series of dangerous decisions that resulted in the fatal collision.

Referring to witness testimonies, Mittelstadt pointed out the suspicious behavior of Smilianska following the crash, indicating that her demeanor did not align with someone who had just been involved in a serious accident.

In the defense’s closing arguments, attorney Timur Kishinevsky defended Smilianska’s actions, suggesting that people react differently to grief and shock.

However, Dougherty countered by highlighting the witnesses’ efforts to assist White at the scene and Smilianska’s lack of remorse or willingness to take responsibility for her actions.