A San Diego County official pleaded not responsible to fees she killed a bride-to-be in a tragic hit—and—run, telling officers she was distraught over the San Diego mosque capturing after the crash.
At her arraignment Monday on vehicular manslaughter fees, prosecutors revealed that Assmaa Elayyat instructed investigators she was upset over the mass capturing on the Islamic Middle of San Diego when she allegedly drove her automobile right into a bus cease and killed a 27-year-old girl, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The sufferer, Katie Osorio, 27, was transported to a close-by hospital the place she later died from her accidents, ABC10 Information reported.
An lawyer for Elayyat, who’s a deputy director with the San Diego County Well being and Human Providers Company, instructed the court docket that his consumer was coping with “stress and feelings” from the horrific killings on Might 18, the identical day of the crash.
Elayyat allegedly hit the bus cease so laborious that her automobile bought caught in a tree behind the cease.
San Diego County District Deputy Lawyer Hailey Williams instructed the court docket that Elayyat labored to free her automobile from the tree earlier than almost working over Osorio a second time and fleeing.
“The defendant knew that she struck one thing and even pulled over after the collision to verify that there was in depth injury to her automobile, in keeping with her assertion to investigators,” Williams mentioned.
“However she determined that she wanted to get herself dwelling to security moderately than return to the scene or take accountability for her actions.”
Prosecutors mentioned police managed to trace the county official down with the usage of license plate readers. When officers approached Elayyat, she allegedly tried to keep away from police by driving in the other way earlier than surrendering.
Williams mentioned that when Elayyat was questioned in regards to the alleged hit-and-run, she instructed police she “couldn’t recall the collision, however admitted she could have struck an indication.”
When pressed additional, she allegedly claimed to be upset over the mosque capturing, wherein two teenage gunmen killed three members of the mosque neighborhood.
Members of the family who had been current on Monday blasted Elayyat’s excuse.
“To make use of a tragic occasion as an excuse… individuals misplaced their lives on the mosque,” mentioned Osorio’s aunt, Dulce Amaya, the Union-Tribune reported. “To make use of that excuse to maintain herself at dwelling. … Katie won’t ever come dwelling.”
It’s unclear if alcohol or medicine performed a job within the crash.
In 2010, Elayyat was convicted of a misdemeanor DUI in San Bernardino County, court docket information present.
Members of the family mentioned Osorio was on the point of enroll in a nursing program and had been busy planning her wedding ceremony in December.
“Tragically, whereas ready at a bus cease in San Diego, Katie was the sufferer of a hit-and-run accident,” a message on a GoFundMe web page learn.
“She fought bravely to remain alive, however sadly, she handed away. Our household is devastated by this sudden loss, and we’re doing the whole lot we will to honor her reminiscence and help her family members throughout this heartbreaking time.”
Elayyat labored for San Diego County’s Well being and Human Providers Company as deputy director for self-sufficiency companies, in keeping with county information. She’s labored for the county since 2020.
“Our hearts exit to the household, associates, and all who’re grieving throughout this extremely troublesome time,” a press release from the county to The Put up learn.
Elayyat is going through a number of fees, together with vehicular manslaughter with particular allegations of gross negligence. If convicted she might spend as much as 11 years behind bars.
Obtain The California Put up App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Put up Information: Fb, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Put up Sports activities Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Put up Opinion
California Put up Newsletters: Join right here!
California Put up App: Obtain right here!
House supply: Join right here!
Web page Six Hollywood: Join right here!
