Oakland woman pleads not guilty in hit-and-run that killed Soquel business owner

A 29-year-old Oakland woman pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident, causing death.

Joanna Steele is accused of hitting a 70-year-old man with her car as he crossed Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz on a Sunday afternoon in August.

The man, Adolfo Galvan, a long-time local business owner, later died from his injuries.

Steele was arrested later that day, after Santa Cruz police tracked the suspect vehicle to the parking lot of a nearby hotel. Police said surveillance footage showed her buying alcohol at a nearby liquor store right before the crash.

Galvan’s family held a candlelight vigil in his honor Sunday night and also held a silent protest outside the courthouse Monday morning.

A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge on Monday denied the prosecutor’s request for a bail increase and Steele remains out of custody. She is due back in court on Nov. 7 to confirm a preliminary hearing date for Nov. 10, prosecutor Greg Peinado said.