Driver, 22, who veered into bike lane and struck NFL coach Greg Knapp won't be charged in his death
The driver who veered into a bike lane and hit NFL coach Greg Knapp, who died five days later, won't be charged in his death because there's not enough evidence of negligence, prosecutors say.
The San Ramon Police Department confirmed that the Contra Costa County District Attorney declined to charge the 22-year-old driver on Thursday. His name isn't being released as a matter of 'privacy.'
Knapp, 58, was set to begin his first season as passing game specialist for the New York Jets when he died on July 22.
'Following thorough review of the investigation, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that there is insufficient evidence to satisfy the requisite standard of criminal negligence on the part of the suspect driver,' the DA's office said Friday morning after news that they'd decided not to charge the driver spread.
Greg Knapp, 58, died on July 22 after he was hit while riding his bike in San Ramon, California
Knapp was wearing his helmet and riding in the bike lane on Dougherty Road when an 'inattentive' 22-year-old driver hit him the afternoon of July 17
'The dangers of distracted driving are well known; to truly promote road safety, motorists need to be attentive drivers as well.'
Knapp was wearing a helmet and riding fully in the bike lane on Dougherty Road, just north of North Monarch Road, in eastern San Ramon, California at 2.50pm on July 17.
The driver was traveling northbound along with Knapp, but he drifted into the bike lane due to 'inattention,' San Ramon Police Lt. Tami Williams told DanvilleSanRamon.com. It is not clear what was distracting him.
The driver was from nearby Danville, where Knapp kept an offseason home.
Toxicology reports ruled out drugs or alcohol, and police previously said they would examine cellphone records for evidence of distraction.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Knapp, 58, was a 26-year veteran of the NFL. Above, he spoke with player Matt Ryan during his second stint with the Atlanta Falcons on December 8, 2019
The married father of three was set to begin working with the New York Jets before his death
'The driver's identity will not be released as a matter of privacy as he is not being criminally charged,' Williams said.
Knapp, however, never regained consciousness and died at a local hospital five days after the crash.
The married father of three daughters was a 26-year veteran of the NFL who had worked for seven different teams.
The driver who hit him will not be charged because prosecutors don't have enough evidence of 'negligence,' San Ramon police confirmed on Thursday
He had been expected to have a key role in helping offensive Jets coordinator Mike LaFleur and quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese teach and develop Zach Wilson as the 22-year-old QB adjusts to NFL life.
'His legacy is not only working with some of the brightest quarterbacks the league has ever seen, but the countless others across this world he has had an indelibly positive influence on,' Jets chairman Woody Johnson said in a statement after Knapp's death.
Knapp worked his way up to offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers after starting with them in 1995.
He was also twice the offensive coordinator for the then-Oakland Raiders, and he won a Super Bowl ring as quarterback coach for the Denver Broncos in 2016.
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