Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Attempted Murder In Alleged Gaslamp Vehicle Attack

SAN DIEGO, CA — A woman accused of intentionally striking two pedestrians with a car in the Gaslamp Quarter pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that include attempted murder.

Anabel Fernandez, 46, is accused of hitting two women with her vehicle at the intersection of Fourth and Island avenues just before 8 a.m. on Jan. 24.

Along with the attempted murder counts, she's charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and without a driver's license during the alleged attack.

Fernandez faces up to 22 years to life in state prison if convicted of all charges and remains jailed without bail following her arraignment on Tuesday.

The San Diego Police Department said that at some point before the incident, Fernandez and the two victims were involved in a "physical altercation" inside a nearby location.

Afterward, Fernandez went outside, got into her car, and waited for the victims to leave, police said.

An SDPD officer in the area then saw Fernandez's car "rapidly approach and veer in the direction" of the victims as they were crossing the street, striking them both and leaving them hospitalized with serious injuries, according to the SDPD. The officer then pulled Fernandez over about a block away and detained her.

— City News Service