Prosecutors claim 26-year-old Christian Howard fled the scene, then made repairs to his vehicle and sold it in an attempt to cover up the crime.VISTA, Calif. — 26-year-old Christian Howard pleaded not guilty to two felonies and one misdemeanor inside a Vista courtroom Tuesday. He is accused of a fatal hit-and-run,“He did not stop, he did not render aid to this victim, and instead ultimately fled the scene,” said Deputy District Attorney, Nicole Gerard, in the courtroom.
“The victim’s bike was found two miles away from the collision site," said Gerard to the judge."There’s obvious debris and gouging marks left on the road, indicating that this bike was dragged by the defendant’s vehicle for about two miles.” "It just, it just hurts, you know. I know everyone grieves differently, but you know, when you lose someone very close to you, it’s just, I don’t think this is something you’ll ever get over,” said Gross's best friend, Helen St. John.“Coming to work and not seeing my best friend there, you know, it’s hard, it still is hard going through it, you know, just not seeing her face, hearing her, talking to her," said St. John.
Gross's friends and family want her to be remembered for the fun-loving, special person everyone knew her to be.