SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A 76-year-old man accused of killing one pedestrian and injuring another while attempting to park in San Francisco’s Chinatown pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday, according to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.
Zhuo Ming Lu was charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving on a sidewalk and driving at an unsafe speed without gross negligence.
Following Lu’s arraignment, in which he denied all allegations, he was released on his own recognizance. The court ordered him not to drive and to surrender his driver’s license and passport. The Department of Motor Vehicles was also ordered by the court to suspend Lu’s license.
Photo: Citizen
The fatal collision occurred March 27 around 7:44 a.m. outside New Lun Ting Café at 670 Jackson Street. San Francisco Police Department investigators believe that Lu was attempting to park his car when he hit two pedestrians on the sidewalk and then rammed into the café. The two pedestrians were rushed to a local hospital, where one of the victims succumbed to their injuries.
Lu remained at the scene of the crash to cooperate with the investigation. On the day of the crash, police said that alcohol or drugs were not suspected to be factors in the incident.
The next court date in the case is set for Sept. 30.