Sentencing Set For Driver In Deadly Rickenbacker Cyclists Crash

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami area driver who pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident on the Rickenbacker Causeway which left a cyclist dead and another injured will have to wait until next year to find out how much time he will serve in prison.

During a status hearing on Wednesday, a judge set a sentencing date of January 16th for Michele Traverso.

Last September Traverso, 26, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, leaving the scene of an accident with great bodily harm and driving with a suspended license. He faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.

Traverso hit and killed Aaron Cohen and injured cycling partner Enda Walsh as both rode northbound on the Rickenbacker Causeway in February.

Traverso left the scene and didn't turn himself into police until 18 hours later. That made it hard for investigators to prove his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit, despite reports he was drinking in Coconut Grove the night of the accident.

Investigators said Traverso somehow managed to drive his heavily damaged car to his Key Biscayne condo where he covered it with a tarp after the accident.

Cohen's family has filed a lawsuit against Traverso and his father Juan Manuel Traverso, who owned the car Michele was driving at the time of the crash.