Suspected DUI driver pleads not guilty after 5-year-old girl struck

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A 21-year-old woman accused of driving drunk and hitting a 5-year-old girl at Liberty Station pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges in a downtown San Diego courtroom.

Prosecutors say Savannah Monique Taylor intentionally drove her BMW onto a pedestrian path near the USS Recruit on Sept. 6, striking plants, a steel bench and the child, who was riding a scooter. The girl suffered a traumatic head injury and remains in critical condition at Rady Children’s Hospital.

“This is so heartbreaking. I pray that this little girl comes through this,” said Amanda Ozuna, a parent who often walks the same path with her two young children.

The deputy district attorney told the court Taylor performed poorly on field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.097% more than four hours after the crash. Officers also reported finding a mostly empty bottle of Hennessy inside her car.

Taylor has two prior alcohol-related cases involving physical attacks on family members and a partner, prosecutors said.

“She poses a risk to public safety under no restrictive means,” the prosecutor argued, urging the court to keep her in custody.

Taylor faces two felony counts, including DUI causing bodily injury. If convicted, she could be sentenced to several years in prison.

She is being held without bail and will be due back in court Sept. 18.