Driver in Santaluz Stroller Crash Pleads Not Guilty

A North County attorney has entered a not guilty plea in connection with her role in a crash that killed a nanny and seriously injured a toddler.

Nanny Monserrat Mendez, 41, was killed when a driver behind the wheel of an SUV ran a red light at the intersection of Camino Del Sur and Via Verrazzano on Feb. 1.

At the time of the crash, Mendez was pushing a 14-month-old toddler in a stroller. The nanny suffered critical injuries and later died at the hospital.

The toddler was hospitalized in intensive care for several days for injuries including a shattered spleen, fractured femur, pelvic fracture, broken rib, broken leg and skull fracture.

After a lengthy investigation by San Diego police, the driver of the SUV, Christine Padilla, of Del Sur, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, failure to stop at a red light and failure to yield to a pedestrian within a crosswalk.

On Friday, Padilla entered a not guilty plea. Her next trial readiness date is set for April 24. She faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

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