Kirtland resident Carl Sharnhost, 35, was cited for failure to yield in the May 5 collision that killed former longtime Farmington City Attorney Dwight Arthur, who was riding his bicycle on U.S. 64, but he will not face criminal charges, the Farmington Daily Times reported.

Arthur, who was 78, died from internal injuries he received in the accident, the paper said.

"Unfortunately, this was a tragic accident, and as far as we can determine, the driver didn't have the criminal intent that's necessary for the reckless driving to prove homicide by vehicle," District Attorney Lyndy Bennett said. "The case was resolved appropriately with the citation that was issued."

Sharnhost told sheriff's deputies at the time that he was trying to merge onto U.S. 64 from a county road and while he was looking for oncoming traffic on his left side, he didn't see the bicyclist in front of him, the Daily Times said.

Arthur served as Farmington city attorney from 1973 to 1992 and was instrumental in the city's purchase of a share of the San Juan Power Plant and helped establish the San Juan Water Commission, the paper reported.

8:10am 5/9/08 -- Retired Official Dies After Bike Accident: Dwight Arthur, 78, served as Farmington city attorney for 19 years.

Former longtime Farmington City Attorney Dwight Arthur died Wednesday night of injuries he suffered after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle on U.S. 64 on Monday, the San Juan County Sheriff's Office told the Farmington Daily Times.

Arthur, 78, was city attorney for 19 years before retiring in 1992 and was remembered by friends and former colleagues as an honorable, hard-working public servant, the Daily Times reported.

"He was a wonderful man -- a very good city attorney," current City Attorney Jay Burnham told the Daily Times.

"Probably one of, if not the most ethical lawyers I've ever known -- He set the standard for ethical behavior," San Juan County Attorney Doug Echols told the paper. "He was a good man and a good friend."

Arthur was born in Silver City and came to Farmington after serving as city attorney in Deming, the Daily Times said. 

After retiring from the city attorney's job, Arthur continued to serve on Farmington's Public Utility Commission and did legal work free of charge for friends, according to the Daily Times. 

Arthur was on his daily 10-mile bicycle ride on U.S. 64 near his home in Kirtland when he was struck around noon Monday when he was struck by a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Carl Sharnhost of Kirtland, the Daily Times said.

Sharnhost told deputies he was trying to merge eastbound onto U.S. 64 from County Road 6400 and didn't see the cyclist, the paper reported.

Arthur was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center where he died two days later from internal injuries, the Daily Times said.

The traffic case has been turned over to the local District Attorney's Office to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate, the paper reported. 

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