A man Long Beach police arrested for allegedly driving into and killing a pedestrian on New Year’s Eve pleaded not guilty to felony charges on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
David Jermain Grace, 33, of Los Angeles, was arraigned at Long Beach Superior Court on charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, driving under the influence causing injury and driving with a 0.08% blood alcohol content causing injury, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
The day after the fatal collision, Long Beach police said a 62-year-old Long Beach man had been pushing his disabled van in the 300 block of East Market Street when Grace, driving a 2013 Lexus eastbound on Market at high speed, hit the van and pinned the man between the two vehicles.
The impact pushed the van into a truck parked nearby. Police were called to the scene around 5:22 p.m. and tried to help the injured man, who was taken to a hospital and later died. The man’s 19-year-old daughter was with him during the incident but was not hurt, according to Long Beach police.
Grace’s bail was set at $150,000 and he faces additional court hearings later this month.
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