Leaders in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland who this spring made Heather Elizabeth Cook a bishop \u201d\u201d the diocese\u2019s first female bishop \u201d\u201d knew the ugly details of her 2010 drunk-driving arrest but determined \u201cthat this one mistake should not bar her for consideration as a leader,\u201d\u009d the diocese said in a statement Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Now the diocese finds itself under fire after Cook\u2019s acknowledgment that she was involved in a crash on Saturday that killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo, the father of two small children. Cook left the scene but returned later, Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton said in a statement Monday.<\/p>\n
Baltimore police said they have questioned a woman about the crash, but they have not named Cook and no charges have been filed.<\/p>\n
Cook\u2019s attorney, David Irwin, declined to comment in detail but has confirmed she was involved in the crash.<\/p>\n