The Austin American Statesman is reporting that a Hays County jury found Austinite Bradley Danz guilty of reckless driving in a 2007 crash that killed a cyclists. 

The Statesman reports:

Danz hit Adam Raymond, 36, of Austin, head-on while rounding a curve on Mount Gainor Road just south of Dripping Springs on March 23, 2007, killing him, a Department of Public Safety report said. Danz’s Dodge Ram 3500 pickup swerved into the middle of the road as he rounded the curve about 6:30 a.m., the report said.

So this is progress, yes? A driver actually held responsible for the death of a cyclist, good, no?

Not so fast. The District Attorney attempted to charge Danz with a felony negligent homicide, but the grand jury refused to indict. Instead, this misdemeanor reckless driving charge was able to pass the mustard and Danz will likely face 2 years on probation.

2 years on probation, people! Does the loss of the life of one of your loved ones equal this light punishment? If the means of death had be a gun instead of a car, would the grand jury be so reticent to execute justice?

The Statesman quotes Raymond’s wife saying, “It’s not what we originally hoped for but it’s a small victory in light of everything that happened and I was glad to see that the jury was unanimous in its vote that he did do something wrong.”

Let the time fit the crime. This may be a step forward, but only a baby one at that.