A Butler woman whose vehicle hit and killed a man on a bicycle saw a felony vehicular homicide charge withdrawn Monday.

Appearing in person, Susan M. Ekstrand, 28, was accompanied by her attorney Marc Daffner and a group of women. She has been free on her own recognizance since her arraignment Nov. 17.

According to charging documents, police have accused Ekstrand of being distracted and running a stop sign as her vehicle hit and killed Henry Sinopoli, 76, of Butler, as he was traveling through an intersection in downtown Butler.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Zanella withdrew the felony vehicular homicide charge shortly before Ekstrand then waived her right to a preliminary hearing for the remaining charges.

Ekstrand is still charged with misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter and traffic violations of careless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign.

Butler County District Attorney Rich Goldinger was aware of and approved the withdrawal.

“We re-evaluated the facts and felt that the homicide charge and the involuntary manslaughter charge were similar, and that both weren't necessary, so we kept the charge we felt we could more comfortably prove at trial, which is involuntary manslaughter,” Goldinger said.

During the waiver process, Daffner expressed disappointment that the misdemeanor still remained; however, following the court proceeding, he did not wish to comment further.

Ekstrand is scheduled to appear next for a formal arraignment in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. A date was not available by press time.