Arraignment of Motorist Accused of Killing Bicyclist James Swarzman

On April 27 at the Vista Courthouse, Nicole Honda said she witnessed the collision that fatally injured her fiancé, James Swarzman. He and Honda were riding bicycles together in Encinitas at about 1 a.m. on April 10.

Honda was in Vista to see 46-year-old Joseph Fernandez arraigned on a single felony charge of hit-and-run causing death. Honda said she was the first of three cyclists riding in a line; her fiancé was behind her, and then the last cyclist trailed them.

Prosecutor Karl Husoe said a witness described seeing a large truck "drift" until it "straddled lanes" and struck Swarzman on his bike. Pieces left at the scene matched the defendant's vehicle, the prosecutor said.

Fernandez, who pleaded not guilty and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, could face up to four years in prison if convicted, the prosecutor said.