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Lawsuit Filed Against Suspect In Deadly Cyclist Wreck

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The widow of South Florida cyclist Aaron Cohen, who was killed in a hit and run crash on the Rickenbacker Causeway, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man accused of killing her husband.

Attorney Lewis "Mike" Eidson" filed the lawsuit against defendants Michele Traverso and his father Juan Manuel Traverso, who owned the car Michele was driving at the time of the crash.

The younger Traverso is in jail awaiting a July 9th trial date.

He's charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and driving with a suspended license.

At the time of his arrest, Traverso, 25, was enrolled in a drug treatment program after an arrest on cocaine possession.

Police believe Traverso was intoxicated during the Feb. 15th crash that took Cohen's life but was not charged with DUI manslaughter because he waited more than 12 hours to surrender himself.

Though there were reports of Traverso drinking in Coconut Grove that night, investigators could not prove his blood alcohol content level was over the legal limit because of the delay in turning himself in.

Traverso, who was in court for a hearing Monday, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. However, the judge said it would be unlikely for him to receive the maximum punishment.

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