SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A 72-year-old diabetic woman whose PT Cruiser crashed into a bus stop shelter in City Heights, killing a woman and seriously injuring her 4-year-old son and his father, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday and will stand trial on gross vehicular manslaughter and other charges.
Jean Chizer-Williams faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted of charges stemming from the crash last June 4.
Judge Timothy Walsh scheduled a readiness hearing for March 8 and trial for March 28.
The defendant was driving even though her license had been suspended because of her medical condition, and her blood-sugar level was extremely low at the time of the crash, according to Deputy District Attorney John Pro.
Chizer-Williams was driving about 35 mph when she lost control of her vehicle and crashed into the bus shelter in the 4800 block of University Avenue, killing 25-year-old Vanessa Mae Shane, the prosecutor said.
Shane's 4-year-old son, Elijah, and her boyfriend, David Abilez, the boy's father, suffered serious injuries. The boy and his father had multiple broken bones and the child had shards of glass stuck in his liver, Pro said.
Chizer-Williams had been involved in three prior non-injury collisions since 2006 due to the same set of circumstances, according to Pro, who said the defendant has had her driver's license suspended three times.
