SAN DIEGO, CA – A San Diego County official pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run after allegedly striking and killing a woman at a Southcrest bus stop before fleeing the scene.
The Fatal Crash
Assmaa Elayyat, 45, the deputy director for Self Sufficiency Services with San Diego County Health and Human Services, is accused in the May 22 crash on National Avenue.
According to prosecutors, just before 2:00 p.m., Elayyat’s vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic lanes, went up a curb, and slammed directly into a bus bench and a tree, striking 27-year-old Katie Osorio.
The impact was so severe that Elayyat reportedly struggled to extricate her vehicle from the tree. Prosecutors allege she nearly ran over Osorio a second time while reversing to flee. Her front bumper and driver’s side mirror were left behind at the scene.
The Arrest and Defense Claims
License plate reader cameras tracked Elayyat’s vehicle a mile away, where police stopped her. When questioned, Elayyat claimed she could not recall the collision but admitted she “may have struck a sign.”
In court, the prosecution revealed her defense:
- Elayyat claimed she was in severe distress over a recent mosque shooting, which defense attorney Jeff Gold argued led to “dire decisions based on stress and emotions.”
- Though not facing DUI charges, Elayyat has a 2010 misdemeanor DUI conviction from San Bernardino County.
- The defense stated she has voluntarily enrolled in a SCRAMx alcohol monitoring device to maintain accountability.
Elayyat remains out of custody on $50,000 bail under strict conditions prohibiting her from driving or leaving San Diego County. If convicted on all charges, she faces up to 11 years in state prison.
Community Mourns Victim
Katie Osorio’s loved ones packed the courtroom, with some shouting “justice for Katie” as Elayyat departed. Family members shared that Osorio worked two jobs in San Diego to support her mother in Mexico and was scheduled to be married later this year. She had just finished a shift when she was struck.
San Diego County officials issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragic loss of life, confirming Elayyat has been a county employee since 2020.
