A young man is accused of causing the death of a 12-year-old girl who was paddle-boarding in Mission Bay on July 29 when he allegedly struck her on a personal watercraft.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 19, 2024, for Arsanyous Refat Ghaly, 19, of Bellflower, in San Diego Superior Court. He has pleaded not guilty.
Ghaly has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence when he allegedly struck her in De Anza Cove along Mission Bay Drive.
She is identified only as Savannah P. in court documents. She lost consciousness after she was struck, and police officers began CPR until paramedics arrived. She was taken to a hospital where she died.
Ghaly is suspected of speeding on his personal watercraft in an area where operators are supposed to slow down within 100 feet of the shore.
Ghaly remains free on a $20,000 bond.
