QuickTake:

The driver of the SUV that hopped a curb and struck 79-year-old Sharon Schuman, killing her, has a trial date set for next March, almost a year after Schuman's death.

This story has been updated with new information.

A March trial date has been set for Scott Shawn Stolarczyk, the driver who struck and killed community figure Sharon Schuman while she was on a running trail in Eugene.

Stolarczyk, 51, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

He faces charges in connection with an April 23 collision in which police said a Toyota RAV4 driven by Stolarczyk jumped a curb, striking Schuman as the 79-year-old former University of Oregon literature professor jogged on the Amazon Trail.

After the collision, Stolarczyk was taken to a hospital, and Eugene police later obtained a warrant for the hospital blood draw. A state police lab determined the blood alcohol concentration to be 0.196%, more than double the legal limit of 0.08%, according to court documents.

Judge Karrie McIntyre on Monday, Sept. 15, asked Stolarczyk if he understood that he must appear for his trial date and, in the meantime, obey the terms set for his release.

With his hands clasped in front of him, Stolarczyk said, “I do.”

McIntyre said Stolarczyk’s trial would begin March 18, but online court records briefly listed a March 17 trial date. Liz Rambo, trial court administrator for Lane County Circuit Court, on Tuesday confirmed the correct date is March 18.

Stolarczyk, a Eugene resident, in June spent a day in jail after being arrested following his criminal indictment, then was set free on $175,000 bail. He was released after paying $17,500 — 10% of the bail amount — and must comply with electronic monitoring requirements that include remaining at home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to court documents.

Defendants are charged fees for remaining free on electronic monitoring, and Judge Curtis Conover on Aug. 29 reduced Stolarczyk’s daily payment from $52 to $10 after a motion by his attorney stating he had already paid more than $4,000 in fees.

The conditions for his release also include a prohibition on buying or consuming alcoholic beverages, according to court documents.

The charge of second-degree manslaughter is a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Stolarczyk’s charge of driving under the influence is a misdemeanor.

Schuman, a professional violinist for more than four decades, taught literature at the University of Oregon from 1997 until 2007. 

In Eugene, she served as an advocate for the arts and also supported other community causes. She volunteered for a decade on the board of directors for the nonprofit SquareOne Villages, a shelter organization for the unhoused.

Her death “left a huge hole in the community,” Dan Bryant, public advocacy director of SquareOne Villages, said back in April. Friends and family members remembered her as a creative force often at the forefront of projects aiming to help those in need, like violin performances to raise money for Fanconi Cancer Foundation.

Outside the Lane County Courthouse after the court appearance, Stolarczyk declined to comment when asked if he had any statement.

“At the advice of my attorney, I’m not going to say anything at this point,” he said.