‘Road rage grandma’ Sandra Marie Wicksted, 61, charged after she ‘intentionally’ ran over a female cyclist and tried to hit four others in a horrific road rage attack
Enraged motorist ‘intentionally’ ran over and killed a female cyclist and tries to hit four others in a horrific road rage attack in Claremont, California on Saturday morning
That driver, Sandra Marie Wicksted, was arrested and charged with murder on Saturday
Authorities said Wicksted, 61, ran over and killed Leslie Pray, 54, as she rode her bicycle
The impact of crash sent Pray across a yard and into a driveway, where she died
Four other cyclists told police Wicksted tried to hit them before Pray was killed
Wicksted’s bail was set at $2million and the incident is still under investigation
Leslie Pray [photo], was killed on Sunday after 61-year-old Sandra Marie Wicksted run her over four others in horrifying road rage killing in California
A 61-year-old woman has been charged with running over a cyclist and trying to run over four others in horrifying road rage killing in California.
Sandra Marie Wicksted ran over Leslie Ann Pray, 54, as she rode her bicycle in a Claremont neighborhood around 11.30am Sunday morning, according to prosecutors.
Authorities said the impact of the crash sent Pray across a yard and into a driveway.
Police said Pray died at the scene of the collision with Wicksted’s 1996 Mercury Tracer, which was reported at 11:37 a.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of Mills Avenue.
“Based on the investigation, it was determined that the driver intended to strike the bicyclist,” Claremont Police Lt. Eric Huizar said.
Wicksted, who was treated at a hospital for unspecified injuries, was arrested just after 12:05 p.m. and has remained in custody since then in lieu of $2 million bail, according to jail record. Prosecutors however, plan to request an increase to $6.2 million..
Wicksted has been charged with murder for allegedly running over Pray. She was also charged with four counts of attempted murder for trying, and failing, to run down four other riders before she killed Pray.
![Leslie Pray, and Betsey Hipple [right] 1.JPG](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Leslie-Pray-and-Betsey-Hipple-right-1.jpg?resize=620%2C476&ssl=1)
Pray [left] was riding her bicycle in a Claremont neighborhood on Saturday when the incident occurred. Pray’s partner of nine years, Betsey Hipple [right], spoke during a vigil on Monday night. ‘I cherished her. She was a profoundly gentle soul’
Authorities said the impact of the crash sent Pray across a yard and into a driveway [photo], where she died. Hundreds attended a vigil on Monday night
‘The fact that the bicyclist was driving northbound on Mills in a bicycle lane, and the vehicle was travelling southbound, with skids we found at the scene shows a direct line right into the bicyclist,’ Lt Eric Huizar told ABC 7.
‘It’s clear to us that she intended to strike the bicyclist.’
Claremont Police Chief Shelley Vander Veen echoed Huizar’s conclusion and said their ‘investigation shows it was an intentional act and it was completely senseless’.
Four other cyclists told investigators that Wicksted tried to hit them just moments before Pray was killed.
Hundreds attended a vigil on Monday night on Mills Avenue to remember Pray.
Pray’s partner of nine years, Betsey Hipple, spoke during the vigil.
‘I cherished her. She was a profoundly gentle soul,’ she said, according to CBS.
Pray had just rekindled her passion for cycling [seen at her vigil], this summer after 25 years
She faces one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder. Her bail was set at $2million. ‘I think I’ll have a sadness and carry a big gaping hole in my heart for the rest of my life.’
According to the station, Pray had just rekindled her passion for cycling this summer after 25 years. The driver faces one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder.
If convicted as charged, Wicksted faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison.
Wicksted’s bail was set at $2million.
The case remains under investigation by the Claremont Police Department.
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