76-Year-Old Was Trying To Park When He Crashed And Killed Pedestrian In SF: DA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A 76-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a deadly crash in San Francisco's Chinatown neighborhood in March, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say Zhuo Ming Lu was trying to park in the area of Grant Avenue and Jackson Street around 7:43 a.m. on March 27, when he instead accelerated, crashing into two pedestrians and a building.

One pedestrian died from their injuries after being taken to a local hospital, while the other survived, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.

Lu remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, authorities said.

On Wednesday, prosecutors announced there was enough evidence to charge Lu with vehicular manslaughter while driving a vehicle in the commission of unlawful acts and driving at an unsafe speed without gross negligence.

The 76-year-old appeared in court Tuesday, where he denied the allegations against him, prosecutors said.

Lu was released on his own recognizance and ordered by a judge not to drive, surrender his driver's license and passport, prosecutors said. The judge also ordered the DMV to suspend his license, they added.

Lu is due back in court on Sept. 30 for a pre-trial hearing, authorities said.