Latest Headlines
- FDOT Plans Traffic Shift Thursday In Century Highway 29 Construction Zone
- Molino Man Charged With Throwing Object, Breaking Windshield Of Passing Car
- ECUA Considering Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increases
- Highway 4, Highway 168 Bridges Across North Escambia Remain Closed. Here’s An Update.
- Free Summer Lunch Available For Youth At Libraries In Escambia County
- AAA: Florida Gas Prices Dropped 18 Cents In 10 Days
- Potential Sinking Of SS United States Under Consideration For Escambia County As Artificial Reef
- M-Braves Sweep Blue Wahoos
- Two-Time Super Bowl Champ Inspires Local Youth Athletes (With Photo Gallery)
- Century Woman Charged With Meth Possession After Traffic Stop
Bond Revoked For Woman In DUI Death Of Bicyclist
June 16, 2009
An Escambia County judge has ordered that bond be revoked for the woman charged with driving drunk and killing a bicyclist on Nine Mile Road.
Christina Rivkin remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond charged with DUI manslaughter and four other charges in connection with the death of Michael Steele, 25.
Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Frank Bell ordered that Rivkin be held until her trial. Steele’s funeral was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Rivkin was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road when she crossed the white line near Brewster Street and struck Steele as he was riding his bicycle to work at Winn Dixie about 11:15 Wednesday night. Troopers say Steele and his bicycle were dragged under Rivkin’s GMC Yukon for about a quarter of a mile. Rivkin then fled the scene.
She made her appearance Friday afternoon before Judge Thomas Johnson via a video feed from the Escambia County Jail. Rivkin could be seen wiping tears from her eyes during her appearance. State Attorney Bill Eddins had requested that bond be set at $1 million because Rivkin has two previous DUIs — one in Escambia County and one in Ohio. Johnson denied that request, setting the bond at the half million.
Rivkin will be back in court on July 2 for an arraignment hearing. She told the judge that she will hire her own attorney.
About an hour after Wednesday night’s accident, Rivkin returned to the scene, where she “skidded to an abrupt stop nearly striking the patrol car of Deputy Mark Smith,” the FHP report says. She “appeared extremely intoxicated. She smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage and her speech was slurred. She could not walk without assistance. (She) could not remember her name or say where she was,” the report continues.
Rivkin, according to the FHP, refused to perform a breath test, and a blood sample was taken to determine her blood alcohol level. Those test results are not yet available.
“He jumped out in front of me. What was I suppose to do?” Rivkin told a trooper at the scene.
The FHP says that the front of Rivkin’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting the bicyclist, and “there appeared to be blood on the front of her vehicle.”
Rivkin is the estranged wife of Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Rivkin, according to an FHP report.
Rivkin had at least two prior DUI arrests and five other moving violations, according to the FHP.
Steele was riding his bicycle to work as part of the stock crew at the Nine Mile Road Winn Dixie when the accident occurred, according to family members. Steele and his wife, Brittney, 20, only owned one car, and family members said he wanted his wife to have the car for her morning commute. He rode the bicycle so that she did not have to drive him to work so that she would be well rested for her job.
Pictured above: Christina Rivkin’s Escambia County Jail booking photo. Click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Bond Revoked For Woman In DUI Death Of Bicyclist”
There’s also no law preventing the display of a mug-shot of a truck-driver or garbage man’s wife… therefore no need to mention their occupation. It was needed in the story to explain the absence of the mug shot.. (originally).
Besides, if Laura Bush left G.W. and was busted a year later for smoking crack… y’all think the news agencies shouldn’t say that she was previously married to da former Prez? Sorry, folks… if you are in the public eye, and your ex-whatever does something crazy…. your name will probably be mentioned…
Since all the other news stories stated it, and William explained why… I’m glad he also put it in…..
If she was the estranged wife of a truck driver or garbage man, would that be reported? Don’t think so. I don’t care if it was released, there’s still no place for it in the story. I know that other media reported it as I read the terrible comments that were made on the PNJ site about the deputy as if it were his fault.
PLEASE keep us posted on this article and the Freemans.
The whole estranged wife thing was brought up by the sheriff’s department and the Florida Highway Patrol. The sheriff’s department refused, at first, to release the mug shot that you see because she is the wife of a deputy as well.
It was also reported in every other media that covered the story. We are certainly not the only ones.
William
I totally agree with Matt. She was drunk and by herself , why drag personal and private issues of who she was estanged from, that person was not there.
A innocent young man lost his life way to soon.
Pray for his family to get through this
I’m glad she has no bond and if she is found guilty of this, I hope she is punished accordingly. What I don’t understand is why it is necessary to mention that she is the estranged wife of a deputy. Estranged would lead me to believe that they are either separated or divorced. I don’t see where this information has anything to do with the story.
What a terrible tragedy. We were neighbors in Beulah many years ago and remember a sweet child. Our prayers go out to the family and friends who are grieving. May GOD comfort you all in this sad time. DRUNK DRIVERS READ THIS SAD STORY AND REALIZE THAT IT COULD BE YOU SITTING IN JAIL WITH NO BAIL. I cannot feel sorry for the young woman. This was not an isolated incident as she had previous problems. What is the answer? We don’t know but it is too late for a fine young man and his wife and family.