Girl hit-run victim brain dead; driver charged

Raquel Lee Ann Rosete (/ Dave Newcomb)

The driver accused of running over two girls, seriously injuring one and gravely injuring the other, in a hit-and-run crash in Tierrasanta on Saturday has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Julianne Little, 30, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter with gross negligence and to hit-and-run driving causing serious injury or death. The girl who was gravely injured, identified by friends as 10-year-old Raquel Rosete, was declared brain dead Tuesday morning, said Deputy District Attorney Marissa Bejarano.

Little’s bail was set at $1 million due to the seriousness of the case, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office said.

Bejarano said the two girls were walking along Santo Road to a McDonald’s restaurant on Tierrasanta Boulevard when Little allegedly drove into the bike lane, up on the curb and hit the children about 6 p.m. The 12-year-old suffered a concussion, a fractured ankle and abrasions. Raquel was carried on the hood of the car for about 60 feet, and was eventually thrown into a bush. She suffered a brain stem injury and went into cardiac arrest, Bejarano said.

Little fled from the crash, but returned about 30 minutes later with her father. Although Little initially told her parents she didn’t know what she hit, and then that she hit a brick wall, she later told police she had fallen asleep and had hit the two girls, authorities said.

Attorney Anthony Solare, who is representing Little, said her family was recently contacted by a person she had a restraining order against and that may have affected her sleep patterns and general well-being. That could have been a factor in the crash, he said Monday.

“She is genuinely devastated,” he said. “This is a really good person who obviously had a very bad night.”

Little has no criminal history. Bejarano said a blood test was conducted after the crash, and Little may face more charges, depending on the results.

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About 40 friends and family members of Raquel were at Little’s arraignment, said Dave Newcomb, the girl’s assistant judo coach.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Newcomb said. “She had a very bright future ahead of her. The skill set she had, and the way she carried herself, was far beyond her age.”

Newcomb met Raquel and her family through the Naval Air Station North Island Judo Club. He described her as a skilled athlete who recently placed first for beginners in her age group at the 2015 Judo Winter Nationals in December.

“She was outgoing and had a lot of energy, but she was also very attentive and self-controlled,” he said. “She was extremely smart and loved the outdoors.”

Newcomb started a GoFundMe page to help support the girl’s family. More than $9,500 was donated in two days.

Raquel is survived by four siblings and her parents. The girl’s father had recently retired as a Navy senior chief and was looking forward to spending time with his family. Despite the untimely loss of their daughter, her parents are working hard to forgive Little, Newcomb said.

“I’m not there yet,” he said. “I don’t forgive her.”

A vigil for the girl will be held Thursday at Orleck Park near the youth center at 6:30 p.m. Her 11th birthday would have been Sunday.