kite boarders killed and injured at stinson beach

[Tony Soprano]

As an avid surfer, mountain biker and kiteboarder, Steve Shannon spent much of his life defying danger. But ultimately, he died just trying to make the first inning of his daughter's softball game.

Shannon, 43, of Corte Madera was identified Wednesday as the motorcyclist killed by a hit-and-run driver near Stinson Beach. Shannon's close friend, Eric Wilcox of Kentfield, was struck by the same vehicle and remains in critical condition.

The suspected driver, Mauro Fabrizio Iaconi of Bolinas, was scheduled to appear in court Thursday to learn whether he will face manslaughter and related charges. Iaconi, a 44-year-old carpenter, was arrested early Wednesday after a police search of more than six hours.

"It's been very hard. It's been a hard day," said Shannon's wife, Heather. "It think it's going to take some time to hit home for all of us."

Shannon and Wilcox spent Tuesday afternoon kiteboarding at Stinson Beach before heading home on Panoramic Highway. Shannon called his wife about 6:15 p.m. to say he was en route to his daughter's softball game at Kent Middle School.

The crash was reported at 6:18 p.m. Tuesday on Panoramic Highway just east of Stinson Beach. Police said a Chevy pickup truck, heading downhill toward the coast, crossed over the double yellow line and struck the oncoming motorcyclists.

Shannon was pronounced dead at the crash site, and Wilcox was airlifted to the trauma center at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. The pickup truck was
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found abandoned 30 feet down an embankment.

Police matched the truck's registration to a residence in Bolinas and arrested Iaconi at his Park Avenue home early Wednesday. He was booked into county jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing injury or death, with bail set at $50,000.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Wilcox, a 48-year-old commercial real estate broker, was in critical but stable condition Wednesday with a shattered pelvis and wrist, according to his wife, Michelle. The Wilcoxes have a 7-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.

"He can wiggle his toes and legs and move things. It's hard to understand him - he's on a lot of medication," Michelle Wilcox said. "You don't wish this upon your worst enemies. I'm in a survival mode right now. I just need to be the rock for my family."

Shannon is survived by his wife, 42, and two daughters, Abigail, 6, and Casey, 8. He is also survived by his mother, Maggie Shannon of Washington, D.C.; his brother, Stewart, and sister, Linda Miller, of Bethseda, Md.

Shannon and his wife both grew up in Bethseda and moved to the Bay Area in the 1990s. Shannon was a bond trader, first with Wells Fargo and then with Piper Jaffray.

"He has a spirit you don't find in people. He lived life to the day. I guess now I see why," said Heather Shannon, a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. "He worked to play. His life was about enjoying his family and enjoying his life and the outdoors. He enjoyed what he had."

A memorial service is planned for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Lyford House at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary at 376 Greenwood Beach Road in Tiburon. For more information, call 388-2524.

[Greg]

Oh MAN that SUCKS!!!
My heart goes out to the friends and family of these guys, We've lost a brother but they have lost a loved one- what a bummer!
Warm winds Shannon! Rest in Peace...

Eric get well soon, I'm so sorry about your friend.. My heart feels for you-take care,
Gregory Boyington

[funkiatdabeech]

This is horrible. And that f&*$ker didn't even come to check and help. Alcohol was a factor?! - I'd bet it was. Kiting can be dangerous, but we control the situation for most of the time. Driving and being hit by some drunken asshole - unpredictable!
...my condolences to the families. RIP Steve and get better soon Eric.
Alex.-

[extremetray]

Reposted from www.ikitesurf.com

Not sure if the greater NorCal kite community knows about this yet, but we lost one of Marin's best on Tuesday in a terrible accident on Mt. Tam above Stinson. Steve Shannon and Eric Wilcox were returning from another killer spring session at Stinson on their motorcycles (they sometimes load their kits on their bikes and ride over the hill), when a truck heading down the hill careened across the double yellow line and struck first Eric and then Steve, killing Steve instantly. Eric is currently at John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek in critical condition but is stabilizing and will thankfully survive.

Just last weekend all three of us spent three days in a row kiting in front of Eric's house at Stinson, followed by beers on his deck with that post session glow of how great life is. Unfortunately, when I left them Sunday afternoon, I had no idea I would lose one of my best friends in such a tragic incident a few days later. I am totally ripped apart by this and so are a lot of other people.

If any of you knew Steve either from kiting, windsurfing, or otherwise, please respond with some words in his memory.

Prayers for Eric are also in order. He is in pretty bad shape, and I have no idea if he'll ever kite again. But if there's anyone who can do it given the slightest chance of recovery, it's him. Along with his wonderful wife Michelle and two young kids, he lives for the sport, just like so many of us do.

Please be careful out there, not only kiting but in every thing else you do. Life is precious.

Peace.

Todd

[Tony Soprano]

http://www.marinij.com/ci_8696621?source=most_viewed

Bail for driver in fatal hit-run hiked to $1 million
Gary Klien
Article Launched: 03/25/2008 07:09:37 PM PDT

Michelle Wilcox (left), wife of injured motorcyclist Eric Wilcox, talks with Heather and Maggie Shannon, widow and mother, respectively, of Steve Shannon, outside a the Civic Center courtroom on Tuesday. (IJ photo/Alan Dep)
A judge doubled bail to $1 million Tuesday for a Bolinas man charged with killing a motorcyclist last week, prompting cheers from grieving family members in the courtroom.

Authorities sought the higher bail for Mauro Iaconi in part because of his criminal history. Iaconi has prior convictions for speeding, engaging in a speed contest, theft and burglary, according to court documents.

Iaconi, 44, appearing slumped in his yellow jail uniform, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run causing death, hit-and-run causing great bodily injury and reckless driving causing injury.

Police said Iaconi ran his truck into two oncoming motorcyclists outside Stinson Beach, killing Steve Shannon, 43, of Corte Madera and severely injuring Eric Wilcox, 48, of Kentfield. Witnesses saw Iaconi's truck passing traffic against the double yellow line shortly before he hit the motorcyclists, according to an affidavit filed by a California Highway Patrol investigator.

Shannon's widow, Heather, and Wilcox's wife, Michelle, attended the plea hearing with two dozen family members and supporters. Also present was Iaconi's white-haired mother, Marriuccia Iaconi, who addressed the court.

"I am here to express my love for my son and my profound sorrow for the families that have been affected by this terrible accident," she said.

When Iaconi was arrested early last Wednesday, his bail was set at $50,000, then raised by authorities to $500,000. On Tuesday,
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prosecutor A.J. Brady asked Judge John Sutro to raise the bail even higher because Iaconi could pose a flight risk and a threat to public safety.

Sutro hiked the bail to $1 million, all but assuring Iaconi would stay in jail until the case is adjudicated.

"Mr. Iaconi fled the scene of the accident," Sutro said. "It's quite obvious he needs to be in custody until this matter is resolved. He could be a substantial danger to the community."

The next hearing is set for May 12.

The crash occurred at 6:18 p.m. March 18 on Panoramic Highway just east of Stinson Beach, where Shannon and Wilcox had spent the afternoon kitesurfing.

Police said a white Chevy pickup truck was on westbound Panoramic Highway - a downhill ride to the coast - when it crossed over the yellow double line and struck the oncoming motorcyclists, Shannon riding a 2006 Ducati 1000 STS and Wilcox a 1998 BMW 1150 GS.

The truck skidded another 50 yards before reaching the highway shoulder and dropping 30 feet down an embankment. The driver was gone when police arrived.

Shannon died at the scene; Wilcox was hospitalized with a shattered pelvis, a broken forearm and numerous other injuries.

The truck was registered to Iaconi, who lives in a Bolinas couple's home on Park Avenue, according to the CHP affidavit. Investigators went to the residence at 7:20 p.m. and at 12:20 a.m., but the couple said he had not returned home.

At 12:55 a.m. March 19, Iaconi contacted police and said he was at home. When investigators arrived, Iaconi, who was covered with cuts, admitted he was involved in an injury crash and fled without checking on the welfare of the other people, CHP Officer Ross Ingels wrote in the affidavit.

Prosecutors are still waiting for test results to determine whether Iaconi was intoxicated. Iaconi told the CHP he drank a shot of vodka and smoked marijuana after arriving home that night.

Iaconi's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Pedro Oliveros, does not dispute that his client drove the truck that hit the motorcyclists. But Oliveros said he is investigating whether Iaconi was driving "in a grossly negligent manner."

Oliveros said Iaconi fled after the crash because he panicked.

Wilcox, a real estate broker with two small children, is still recovering at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he was airlifted after the crash. In addition to the broken pelvis and bones, he is suffering from nerve damage, breathing trouble and double vision.

"He's extremely agitated and his anxiety is starting to take over," his wife said outside court. "He's feeling a lot of pain."

Shannon, a bond trader, is survived by his wife and two daughters, ages 6 and 8.

[OliverG]

Thanks for the update. It is so sad that the lives of many good people can be forever changed by someone so careless...

[jsimon]

Our condolences to the Shannon family. Please let Michelle Wilcox and family know that our home is open to them if they need a place to stay in Walnut Creek while Eric is at John Muir hospital. I have access to many healing resources and can make those available to both families when needed. My contact information: jeanne simon 510-541-4515

[zgur]

Condolences go out to both families. I wish the Wilcox family a speedy recovery.

This is yet another reminder regarding the fragile nature of life....last week a 12 year old ski racer died while training for a race run (at Heavenly). You have to make the most of your life EVERY moment - because you never know when it will come to an abrupt end.

Good winds, Zeev.

[extremetray]

Everyone who's posted/replied here - i'm sure eric would really appreciate all this and i can't wait until he's well enough to read it. as soon as he's ready. my understanding is that he was finally able to see his daughter thursday and was able to sit up in a wheelchair. he's had operations on foot and hand. severe headaches. adjusting to meds has been hard. michelle's doing a great job of managing his recovery and even as one of his best friends I haven't been able to see him yet, 11 days later. i plan to go out to the crash site today on way out to stinson session and add something to the little shrine there. how he'll recover from having his pelvis split in two i'm not sure.

thanks for all your kind words and prayers.

todd in mill valley.

[Tony Soprano]

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_11530596


Bolinas man pleads guilty in fatal crash near Stinson
Gary Klien
Posted: 01/22/2009 04:30:49 PM PST

A Bolinas man who crashed a truck into two motorcyclists in West Marin last year, killing one and severely injuring the other, pleaded guilty to all charges Thursday on the brink of his trial.

Mauro Fabrizio Iaconi, who turns 45 on Sunday, admitted to vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run causing death, hit-and-run causing great bodily injury and reckless driving causing injury. In return, Judge Terrence Boren agreed to limit his sentence to no more than 10 years and eight months in state prison.

In August, Iaconi turned down a similar plea offer and decided to gamble on a trial, which was scheduled to begin Thursday. But last month, authorities received a report from a collision reconstructionist that estimated his speed at 47 to 55 mph on Panoramic Highway.

The report undermined Iaconi's contention that he was not driving with gross negligence, and he decided to take a deal. Iaconi, a father of two children, could have faced up to 13 years and eight months in prison if convicted by a jury.

"Mr. Iaconi feels horrible for the anguish he caused by his driving," said his lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Pedro Oliveros. "He expressed sorrow and remorse because the Shannon children will have to grow up without a father. He has a heavy heart."

The crash occurred at 6:18 p.m. March 18, when Steve Shannon of Corte Madera and Eric Wilcox of Kentfield were riding their motorcycles on Panoramic Highway just east of Stinson Beach.

Witnesses saw Iaconi's truck passing traffic against the double yellow line shortly before he hit Shannon and Wilcox, according to the California Highway Patrol. Police said the truck fell about 30 feet down an embankment, where Iaconi abandoned it and fled.

Shannon, 43, died at the crash scene; Wilcox, then 48, suffered a shattered pelvis, a broken forearm and numerous other injuries. Wilcox was hospitalized for more than a month and is still enduring nerve damage, rehabilitation and followup operations, said his wife, Michelle.

"I'm relieved, I feel like a big weight's off my shoulder," she said after the guilty plea. "(A trial) would only dredge up bad feelings all the way around. It feels good. It's been long in coming, waiting for this day."

Iaconi will be sentenced March 25. He remains in custody at the county jail.