A man who fatally struck a pedestrian in San Francisco’s Castro District last September while wearing a walking boot on his right foot was found guilty today of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
Gregg Wilcox, 60, was found guilty by a San Francisco Superior Court jury late this afternoon. He was accused of driving negligently and causing the death of William Cox, 59, at the intersection of Noe and 14th streets on Sept. 6, 2011.
Wilcox testified on his own behalf last week, saying he used his left foot to press the gas and brake pedals after getting a large walking boot placed on his right foot on Aug. 2 when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture.
He said he drove while wearing the cast for more than a month and that it played no role in the collision, which occurred when he was turning left from southbound Noe Street onto 14th Street and struck Cox, who was walking in the crosswalk.
Wilcox works in construction management but has previously worked as a deputy director for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s transportation development division.
Wilcox remains out of custody pending his sentencing on Sept. 21, when he faces a maximum of one year in county jail.
He declined to comment on the verdict, but his attorney Rafael Trujillo said the case has been “extremely disturbing” to Wilcox.
“This has been just a nightmare for him and we truly believe it was just a tragic accident,” Trujillo said.
He said he thought the jury was likely swayed by the loss of life in the crash.
“A man’s dead, it’s a sad situation,” Trujillo said.
District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement, “This verdict sends a clear message. Everyone should be able to walk our streets without fear of negligent motorists.”
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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