City Worker Charged in Fatal Hit and Run Inside Park

A San Francisco parks worker was arrested today on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run in the death of a Zen monk who was run over by a maintenance vehicle in a city park. Thomas Burnoski, 57, was taken into custody in connection with yesterday's incident at Holly Park. The victim, Christine Svanemyr, 35, of San Francisco was spending a day off sunbathing with her 11-month-old daughter and their family dog in a grassy area of the park when she was hit. The girl and dog were not injured.

Police found Burnoksi and his truck late yesterday afternoon not too far from the park. He was placed on administrative leave without pay pending the investigation. Svanemyr's colleagues were stunned by her death. They said she had spent the past 10 years as an enrollment director at San Francisco-based New Ventures West, a school that says it specializes in helping people reach their full potential in life. "Christy was full of brilliance, passion and kindness," the school said in a statement. (More San Francisco stories.)