The arraignment of Margo Julie Bronstein of Redondo Beach, who is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, has been postponed until Feb. 24 at the Criminal Courts Building in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The original court date was Feb. 10.
Bronstein, 56, is accused of running a red light and hitting a group of pedestrians at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Vincent Street in Redondo Beach on the evening of Dec. 17. The victims had just attended a Christmas concert at St. James Catholic Church and Parish.
Of the 11 people struck, four died: Samuel Gaza, 6; his mother, Martha Gaza, 36; Mary Wilson, 81; and Saeko Matsumura, 87, all of Torrance. Samuel, who was pinned under the car, had sung in the concert; Wilson and Matsumura had just watched their grandchildren perform.
Other injuries included leg fractures, head trauma, bruised lung, and broken collarbone. Matsumura’s daughter and grandson and Martha Gaza’s husband and two daughters were among the injured.
After striking the pedestrians, Bronstein’s car, a white Saturn, collided head-on with another vehicle.
Redondo Beach police said that Bronstein acknowledged having taken two prescription drugs, a painkiller and a muscle relaxant, both of which can cause drowsiness.
On Jan. 27, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laura Priver denied the defense’s motion to dismiss the case. If convicted, Bronstein faces up to 40 years in state prison.