SAN FERNANDO (CNS) — A Canyon Country man pleaded no contest on Tuesday, Oct. 5, to charges stemming from the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist and high school math teacher.
Lucas James Guidroz, 28, pleaded no contest to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run driving resulting in death. He is expected to be sent to prison for 10 years when he is sentenced Nov. 7 in San Fernando.
Guidroz was driving a 2014 Lexus CT200h SUV and struck Roderick Bennett, 53, of Valencia at 4:40 p.m., May 25, on Placerita Canyon Road just east of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway in Santa Clarita, authorities said. Bennett died at the scene.
Investigators found the Lexus two days later in Canyon Country, and Guidroz surrendered a short time later.
Bennett had been riding on the far right of the eastbound lane of Placerita Canyon Road when his bike was struck from behind by a vehicle that continued eastbound, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Bennett was a well-regarded math teacher and band director at Arroyo Seco Junior High School in Valencia.