Left to right, Lynne Rosenbusch and John Fauerby.
Prince Frederick, MD – A Calvert County woman, has been indicted on vehicular manslaughter and homicide charges in connection with a crash last fall that killed two cyclists traveling on a tandem. The mid-afternoon incident occurred Oct. 31 on Tobacco Road in Chesapeake Beach.
According to documents on file at Calvert County Circuit Court, Catherine Frances Lyon, 62 of Huntingtown was indicted in late December on two counts of negligent manslaughter by automobile, two counts of negligent homicide by automobile while under the influence, two counts of negligent homicide by automobile while under the influence per se and two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. All of those charges are felonies. Lyon was also indicted for driving under the influence and driving while impaired.
According to police reports, John Henrik Fauerby, 64; and Lynne Frances Rosenbusch, 58; both of Clarksburg, were traveling on Tobacco Road shortly before 3 p.m. when they were struck from behind by a motor vehicle. Both riders were ejected. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported Rosenbusch was pronounced dead at the scene. Fauerby was taken to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he died a short time later.
According to court documents, Lyon, who was driving a 2014 Jeep Cherokee on Tobacco Road, initially told police she saw the injured cyclists and stopped to check on them. However, police at the scene observed red paint from the tandem on the Jeep’s hood and detected alcohol on Lyon’s breath. According to Deputy M. Trigg, Lyon admitted to having “a few cocktails” before the crash.
Lyon was later administered the Intox EC/IR-II breath test and blew a .12 BrAC, court documents stated. She was arrested and charged but freed on $200,000 bond the following day.
According to Calvert County Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Rappaport, Lyon, again posted and remains free on bond following the Jan. 4 service of the indictment.
A pre-trial hearing in circuit court on the state’s case against Lyon is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 1. A pre-trial hearing is tentatively set for March 11. A criminal jury trial has been tentatively scheduled for May 9.
The sudden deaths of Fauerby and Rosenbusch saddened cycle enthusiasts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Many avid bicyclists knew the couple from various riding events. A special event was held Nov. 22, with cyclists, subsequently gathering to tie a tandem to a tree at the exact location where Fauerby and Rosenbusch lost their lives.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com