Driver sentenced in motorcyclist’s death

An Italian nationalist pleaded guilty Monday to making an unsafe left turn in Huntington Beach that killed a 59-year-old Sunset Beach motorcyclist.

Marlies Mussner’s June 26 accident killed Mark Montgomery. She was convicted of one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter Monday.

Mussner, 24 was sentenced to 45 days at the Torrance City Jail and assigned 250 hours of community service. Mussner was also ordered to make a $1,000 donation to the Dana Watkins Memorial Fund, which was established by the mother of a man killed in a motorcycle accident to help parents pay for their children’s memorial services.

The judge indicated that Mussner could complete her community service hours at a “licensed, nonprofit organization in Italy” as long as the organization was pre-approved, said Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney. Mussner has until July 2010 year to complete her service hours.

Mussner was vacationing here when she made an unsafe left turn in the rented Dodge Caliber she was driving, striking Montgomery’s Harley Davidsonin oncoming traffic at Garfield Avenue and Edwards Street. Montgomery hit his brakes, but was unable to stop in time. He died at Huntington Beach Hospital about 30 minutes after the crash, prosecutors said.

— Katie Watson