An 18-year-old woman accused of killing a man in a hit and run crash plead not guilty in court on Tuesday afternoon.
Nikolett Gallo is accused of killing 23-year-old UC San Diego graduate student Sho Funai. California Highway Patrol officers said he was found lying on the side of the Nimitz Boulevard on-ramp to Interstate 8. Gallo was charged with one count of felony hit and run, causing death.
Gallo turned herself into the CHP and was booked into Las Colinas. She told authorities she had just dropped off a friend in Ocean Beach and was returning home when she hit the man, which she thought was a sofa.
Gallo’s attorney told NBCSanDiego that it wasn't clear if Gallo drank alcohol the night of the incident, but there are no allegetions of drug or alcohol use.
“She is numb she is upset she is saddened for the loss of the gentleman on the freeway that night and again we look forward to finding out the facts and the circumstances were involved in this incident,” said Gallo’s defense attorney Kim Aminpour.
Gallo could be put on probation or spend up to four years in prison if convicted, but is currently free on bond after her court appearance.
The judge ordered Gallo to wear a SCRAM device, which sends an alert when a person consumes alcohol.
Her attorney said they agreed to it, as a show of good faith that she is not a safety risk.
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