A 76-year-old woman pleaded not guilty Dec. 7 to hit and run in the death of Stephen Debow who was struck in North Park on Nov. 21 and died in a hospital six days later.

Donna Chapman Jacobs, of City Heights, appeared before San Diego Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers, who allowed her to remain free on $100,000 bond.

Debow, 42, was struck at 7:15 p.m. crossing the street at Park Blvd. and Utah Street.

Deputy District Attorney Roza Egiazarian said Jacobs was driving her Hyundai at 30 mph and struck Debow and carried him 65 feet on the hood until he fell off. She did not stop and drove away.

Friends of Debow kept his memory alive with a memorial at the crash site. San Diego Police said the hit and run driver drove a 2017-2022 Hyundai because car parts on the front of her vehicle fell off at the scene.

Egiazarian said Jacobs was arrested Dec. 1 due to help from the public and also an investigation from the police traffic investigation. “It’s an ongoing investigation,” she added.

Neighbors said the intersection of Park Blvd. and Utah Street should be a 4-way stop instead of a 2-way stop. Some of Debow’s friends have said there is only one streetlight that is poorly lit.

Weathers asked Egiazarian if she could surrender her driver’s license that day, but she said she didn’t bring it as she is not driving. He told her to surrender the license on Dec. 18 and told her not to drive.

The judge set a Dec. 20 preliminary hearing, but it may be delayed because of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

She is also charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. If convicted of felony hit and run involving death, Jacobs faces up to four years in prison, said the prosecutor.

Outside the courtroom, Jacobs left using a cane and was accompanied to court by a friend. She posted $100,000 bond after spending a day or two in jail.

A friend of Debow’s said he is raising his dog Griff for now and may permanently adopt him.