Elizabeth DeSeelhorst, who was sentenced to probation and home confinement, faced the Johnson family, acknowledged responsibility and apologized profusely.

"Please believe how sorry I am," she said. "Please believe me, and God bless you."

Johnson's family - her father, mother, two brothers and a sister - all thanked DeSeelhorst for her apology and said they accepted it.

The father, Richard Johnson, took to the podium a second time to tell the defendant: "I want to make something very clear: We forgive you."

After the hearing, the two families mingled in the courtroom, hugging each other, crying and quietly talking.

Defense attorney Richard Van Wagoner told news reporters that DeSeelhorst was feeling "a huge sense of relief, not because of what the court did, but because of what the Johnsons did. . . . She feels their acceptance of her apology is sincere."

Third District Judge Royal Hansen sentenced the 67-year-old woman to 36 months probation, including six months home confinement with an ankle monitor.

The judge also fined DeSeelhorst $4,625, ordered $18,105 in restitution to the Johnson family and imposed 320 hours of community service.

The judge said he prefers the community service be related to bicycle safety and health services, two areas that Johnson, a 25-year-old molecular biology student, was passionate about.

DeSeelhorst, who already had given up her driver license, also was ordered not to drive.

No one asked for jail time.

DeSeelhorst was convicted by a jury in December of negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor that could have sent her to jail for a year.

Josie Johnson was killed Sept. 18, 2004, when she was hit from behind by DeSeelhorst's Jeep Cherokee about 12 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. At trial, the defense claimed DeSeelhorst, who has a history of strokes, was experiencing a "mini stroke" that caused a brief lapse of consciousness.

Johnson's death sparked a public outcry from bicycle safety advocates and led to the creation of a statewide bicycle coalition and an annual memorial bike ride.

DeSeelhorst - who is apparently experienced in fundraising and community events - vowed to help ensure that something good comes from Johnson's death .

"I have to believe our two families can come together to find a way to honor and respect Josie," DeSeelhorst said. "I'm determined to find a way to turn this terrible accident into a positive, lasting force."

Josie's brother Ken Johnson suggested DeSeelhorst could provide a venue for the Josie Johnson memorial bike ride, as well as support the addition of a bike lane to the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Johnson described his sister as someone who embraced life by taking "everything to the nth degree."

Valedictorian of her junior high and high schools, she graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University and served a Mormon mission to France. As a second-year graduate student at the University of Utah, she was involved in cutting-edge research on how diabetes affects the heart and circulatory system.

The day Josie died was typically full, her brother said.

She attended an early morning LDS temple ceremony, worked for hours on her lab experiments, then started biking the 14 grueling miles to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

"There was a joy of life in everything she did," Ken Johnson said. "Her family is left to heal from the gaping hole left by her absence."

Johnson said he does not believe DeSeelhorst has " a criminal nature" or should go to jail.

As for DeSeelhorst's apology, Johnson told her, "I extend a warm hand of acceptance. This has been a challenging time for your family and mine."

After the hearing, Richard Johnson said he was satisfied with the sentence and impressed with "the depth of feeling" shown by DeSeelhorst.

But he said that does not mean the Johnsons will not file a lawsuit against DeSeelhorst. "We will pursue a civil remedy," he said.