Magnus White was 17 years old when he was struck and killed while riding his bike near Boulder, Colorado, in July 2023.
He was training for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Set to represent the United States in Scotland just days later. White was already a U.S. junior national champion. He was a multi-discipline athlete. White raced cyclocross, mountain bike, and road at the national-team level, with a bright future ahead.
Three years later, his family is asking the cycling community for help again.
The driver, Yeva Smilianska, was convicted of reckless vehicular homicide in April 2025. She was sentenced that June to four years in Colorado state prison, followed by three years of mandatory parole. The jury found that Smilianska acted recklessly. While driving, she blacked out behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Her vehicle left the roadway and struck White from behind as he rode on the shoulder of Highway 119.
According to Magnus’ father, Michael White, Smilianska now has a parole hearing scheduled for October 15, 2026. The family and The White Line advocacy group are asking supporters to submit letters to the Colorado State Board of Parole by October 8.
Write In For Magnus
Following Magnus’ death, his family created The White Line. A nonprofit focused on road safety, stronger crash investigations, and protections for cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users. The organization has since pushed for several pieces of legislation in Magnus’ name, including Colorado’s recently enacted Magnus’ Law.
Now the group has created a letter-writing tool to make submitting a statement ahead of the parole hearing easier.
How You Can Help
You don’t need to have known Magnus personally. The family is asking cyclists, runners, pedestrians, drivers, and anyone affected by road safety to explain why the case matters to them.
Send Emails
Letters can also be sent directly to the Colorado Department of Corrections Victim Service Unit at doc_vsu@state.co.us, using:
SMILIANSKA, YEVA — DOC #204149
Colorado’s Victim Service Unit has previously used the same email address and DOC number for public statements related to Smilianska’s release proceedings.
Smilianska was previously denied placement in Boulder County Community Corrections earlier this year. In June, she also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in a separate case involving duplicated paychecks from a former employer.
For Magnus’ family, that means returning to the case and asking the public to get involved once again.
It takes a few minutes to write an email. For those of us who spend a lot of time riding on open roads, Magnus’ story has always hit especially close to home. He was doing exactly what thousands of us are lucky to do: riding his bike, training, and heading home. This could have been any of us.
Act Now Before October 8th
Submit letters by October 8, ahead of the October 15 parole hearing. The White Line’s letter-writing tool is linked through the organization’s current campaign.
