A 72-year-old woman accused in a hit-and-run DUI crash that killed the 15-month-old son of an MMA fighter pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Donna Marie Higgins was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit-and-run driving and two DUI counts. She is due back in court Jan. 12.
Higgins was arrested following the fatal Sept. 3 crash in Hawthorne. A 15-year-old girl was pushing a baby boy in a stroller across an intersection on Hawthorne Boulevard at 133rd Street when they were struck by a car.
The driver continued before being stopped by several witnesses, according to prosecutors.
The baby, Liam Kowal, died at a hospital. He was identified as the son of MMA fighter Marcus Kowal and his wife.
His 15-year-old aunt suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Higgins faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
