Pasadena Man Pleads Not Guilty to Traffic Collision Death of Local Woman

A Pasadena man arraigned Wednesday on one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated pleaded not guilty after the collision of a car he was driving into a light pole killed a Pasadena woman on December 10.

The man, 38-year-old Javier Placencia, is now scheduled to return to court Jan. 25 for a hearing.

Placencia remains in held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.

In the fatal incident, police said the single vehicle collision involved a red 2007 Ford Edge which struck the pole at about 5:29 a.m. in the 900 block of Seco Street as it was travelling east between Rosemont Avenue and Lincoln Avenue.

Police said officers and fire department personnel responded to a report about a vehicle fire, and found the driver was not injured.

The lone passenger, however, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local area hospital.

The woman, identified as 52-year-old Maria Luciana Gomez of Pasadena, was later pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m., according to Ed Winter, Assistant Chief with the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Placencia was arrested by officers at the scene that morning and has since remained in custody.