Female Ukrainian refugee, 23, rejects plea deal for striking and killing 17 year-old Team USA cyclist with her car ‘after falling asleep at the wheel’

The female Ukrainian refugee who struck and killed a 17-year-old Team USA cyclist with her car has rejected a plea deal nearly eight months after the tragic incident.

Yeva Smilianska, 23, is facing a charge of reckless driving resulting in vehicular homicide after she struck champion Boulder cyclist Magnus White while she allegedly “fell asleep at the wheel.”

The charge, a class four felony in Colorado, carries a possible penalty of two to six years in prison and a fine ranging from $2,000 to $500,000.

During the court hearing on Friday, Smilianska’s lawyer requested a delay to facilitate the review of the extensive 70 hours of bodycam footage. The request was granted by Judicial District Judge Patrick Butler, and Smilianska did not enter a plea at that time.

The parents of the 17-year-old Team USA cyclist expressed their dismay after Friday’s decision, saying, “It hurts emotionally and physically as we continue to face every day without Magnus.”

“The driver’s decision not to enter a plea at this time and to request an extension of the proceedings does not surprise us. It only delays the outcome of the case and prolongs our suffering. “Each appearance in court will continue and will take us back to reliving the day Magnus was murdered,” the statement said.

In July 2023, ‘rising star’ of American cycling Magnus White was hit from behind by the 23-year-old woman who was behind the wheel of a Toyota Matrix just after 12:30 p.m.

White was scheduled to race at the upcoming world championships before he was struck during a training ride on Highway 119 near his home in Boulder, Colorado.

The collision caused White and his bicycle to leave the road and crash into a fence where his bicycle came to a stop. Colorado State Patrol says speed and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

He was preparing to represent the US Cycling National Team at the Mountain Bike World Championships before the unfortunate incident.

Despite initially claiming car trouble, investigators found no mechanical problems with the vehicle and suspect Smilianska may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

In a statement, she claimed to have slept a few hours the night before.

Magnus’ parents emphasized the pain of losing their son and the void his absence had left over the past eight months.

They said the court appearances prolong their suffering and take them back to the day Magnus was killed.

They urged the court to recognize his death as a crime and not an accident, emphasizing that Smilianska’s actions had not only stolen Magnus’ future but also irreparably destroyed their lives.

Smilianska, who posted a $100,000 personal recognizance bond in December, is scheduled to appear in court on May 24.

White’s family founded The White Line, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safer cycling environments and preserving Magnus’ memory.

‘We are living through every parent’s worst nightmare. Every missed major milestone in his life, every vacation and now every legal proceeding brings with it a heavy flood of emotions that no family should ever have to experience. It hurts emotionally and physically as we face each other every day without Magnus,” the parents said in a statement after the court appearance.

USA Cycling announced White’s death in a statement after his death.

“He was a rising star in the off-road cycling world and his passion for cycling was reflected in his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and the local community,” the agency said in a statement. ‘We ride for Magnus.’

“We extend our sincere condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time.”

White was a rising multi-discipline star, winning the 2021 Junior 17-18 Cyclocross National Championships and earning a spot on the U.S. National Team, which he called a “pivotal moment” because it afforded him the opportunity to race in Europe.

He then competed with the USA Cycling National Team for a full season of European cyclocross racing, ending the year at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championship in Arkansas.

He was chosen to represent the US again this year at the Cyclocross World Championships in the Netherlands and this summer he earned a spot on the World Mountain Bike Championships team.

White started getting involved in cycling and mountain biking this season.

He had been focusing on his final preparations before heading to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men’s Mountain Bike World Championships on August 10.

White was on one of his last training runs when the accident occurred weeks before he was to start his senior year of high school.

White started racing nationally when he was 10 and credited his father with introducing him to the sport.

“Growing up, my dad really got me into cycling because he raced on the road. Then I discovered my local team (Boulder Junior Cycling), which has some really great coaches who got me where I am today,” White said in his profile on the USA Cycling website.

“In the summer of 2023, I will begin a new and exciting chapter of my cycling career: a debut on the international mountain bike racing circuit, proudly wearing the Team USA jersey,” he wrote.

He is survived by his parents, Michael and Jill, and his brother Eero. To help the family, a GoFundMe page has been set up by Christine Lipson, whose son is White’s close friend and teammate.

“Magnus was taken from us doing what he loved most: riding his bike,” Lipson wrote in the appeal.

“Magnus’ family is strong, but the support of their community will give them plenty of time to grieve.

‘Magnus’ greatest joy in life was cycling after playing flag football in his younger years. He was also an accomplished skier.

‘He started cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks.

‘Magnus’ journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best.

“He was proud to represent his community and country around the world.”