A 37-year-old alleged drunken driver pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from a May 7 crash in Pomona that left a woman dead.
Michael Daniel Gardner of Pomona is charged with one felony count each of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving or taking a vehicle without consent and fleeing a pursuing police officer’s motor vehicle causing serious bodily injury. He also faces a misdemeanor count of driving when privilege is suspended or revoked.
The victim, Marissa Vasquez, was driving an SUV that was rear-ended in the 200 block of West Arrow Highway. The 32-year-old Pomona resident died at the scene of the 10:45 p.m. crash.
Gardner — who was driving a 2014 Mercedes-Benz that had been stolen — allegedly tried to run away after the collision.
“The suspect was determined to be under the influence of alcohol,” Pomona police Sgt. Bert Sanchez said shortly after the crash.
Gardner, who was treated at a hospital for injuries he suffered in the crash, remains jailed in lieu of $1.125 million bail. His next court date is June 29.
— City News Service