San Diego County employee pleads not guilty in crash that killed bride-to-be

A San Diego County Health and Human Services official who allegedly struck and killed a woman sitting at a Southcrest bus stop, then fled the scene, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.

Assmaa Elayyat, deputy director for Self Sufficiency Services, is accused in the May 22 crash into a bus bench on National Avenue that killed 27- year-old Katie Osorio.

She faces up to 11 years in state prison if convicted of all charges, which do not include any DUI-related allegations. Elayyat remains out of custody on $50,000 bail, but must abide by release conditions that include a prohibition against driving or leaving San Diego County.

Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams said that just before 2 p.m., Elayyat’s vehicle drifted into oncoming lanes of traffic, up a curb, and into the bus stop and a tree.

The prosecutor said Elayyat “struggled to extricate her vehicle from the tree because she had struck it with such force,” then nearly ran over Osorio a second time as she reversed.

After Elayyat fled, her front bumper and driver’s side mirror remained at the crash scene, Williams said.

License plate reader cameras captured her car around a mile away and she was stopped by police, according to the prosecutor.

Once questioned by officers, “the defendant claimed that she could not recall the collision, but admitted she may have struck a sign on National Avenue. When pressed further by investigators, the defendant stated that she had been in distress over the recent mosque shooting,” said Williams.

The prosecutor said Elayyat has a minimal criminal history, which includes a 2010 misdemeanor DUI conviction out of San Bernardino County.

Defense attorney Jeff Gold said his client has voluntarily agreed to a SCRAMx monitoring device, which is typically used to monitor defendants for alcohol use.

While Elayyat is not facing any DUI-related charges, Gold described it as a “leash” that would help ensure she remained on the right track.

“Our goal is to make sure that she never makes decisions like this again,” said Gold, who argued “the recent murders at the mosque led her to make dire decisions that were based on stress and emotions.”

Though Williams alleged Elayyat enrolled in SCRAMx in order to obtain good conduct credits that can reduce the length of a potential custodial sentence, Gold said his client agreed to the measure because it was “the right thing to do.”

Gold said, “I think it’s a matter of emotional discipline that led to this crime and what SCRAMx does is in fact hold you accountable.”

Gold asked Superior Court Judge Alana Wong Robinson to order Elayyat to participate in SCRAMx, which the judge declined to do, though Gold said his client would voluntarily continue to participate regardless.

County officials said Elayyat has been employed with San Diego County since 2020.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and all who are grieving during this incredibly difficult time,” county officials said in a statement.

A GoFundMe page created to support Osorio’s family describes her as “a devoted daughter, cousin, and friend who worked tirelessly in San Diego to support her mother in Mexico. She balanced two jobs while also managing a business back home, always putting her family first.”

Around a dozen of the victim’s loved ones attended Elayyat’s arraignment, with some of them shouting “murderer” and “justice for Katie” after Elayyat departed the courtroom.

Osorio’s family members said she was set to get married later this year and had just gotten off work from one of her jobs when she was waiting at the bus stop.