Felony vehicular manslaughter charge in fatal S.F. crash

A teenager was killed and two others critically injured in a Pacific Heights crash on Pine at Gough streets at around 7:00am in San Francisco, California, on Friday, September 27, 2013. Police Sgt. Danielle Newman said a witness reported the responsible driver as driving 80 miles an hour into a minivan stopped at a red light. less A teenager was killed and two others critically injured in a Pacific Heights crash on Pine at Gough streets at around 7:00am in San Francisco, California, on Friday, September 27, 2013. Police Sgt. Danielle ... more Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Felony vehicular manslaughter charge in fatal S.F. crash 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

The woman accused of crashing her speeding Mercedes-Benz into a minivan and killing a 16-year-old boy in September in San Francisco has been charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter, prosecutors said Monday.

According to court records, investigators concluded that Jennie Zhu, a 58-year-old San Francisco resident, had been speeding for blocks before the crash on westbound Pine Street, and had exceeded 70 mph - more than twice the speed limit.

Experts from Mercedes-Benz and the California Highway Patrol found no evidence of a mechanical failure before Zhu rear-ended a minivan at Gough Street just before 7 a.m.

The crash killed Lincoln High School junior Kevin San, who was in the minivan with his mother and sister, both of whom were seriously injured. The mother was initially in a coma.

Three people in a catering van that was also struck were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Zhu suffered minor injuries.

Investigators found no evidence that Zhu had driven through red lights or had exceeded 80 mph, contrary to earlier reports from police, records show. A toxicology test confirmed she was not under the influence.

"This is a case we obviously have a tremendous amount of concern about," San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón said at a news conference Monday. "A 16-year-old boy is dead, and his mother and sister are seriously injured as a result of this collision."

Zhu was arrested soon after the Sept. 27 wreck but was released on $300,200 bail. She was arrested on the upgraded charge Friday and posted an increased bail of $320,000 on Saturday.

She will be arraigned Thursday on one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter and two felony counts of reckless driving. If convicted, she faces up to seven years and four months in jail, Gascón said.

Her attorney did not return calls seeking comment. After the crash, he told The Chronicle that Zhu recalls almost nothing from the incident before finding herself "on her knees in the intersection."

"She doesn't even have a parking ticket," said the lawyer, Alfred Vea Jr. "This is a big surprise to everybody, but mostly to her." Vea said his client may have suffered "some kind of seizure."

Zhu had no violations on her driving record, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

An attorney for the victim's family, Trenton Goulding, said Monday, "They're still in a period of deep mourning and a period of recovery. I can't really make much comment. I understand that the mother is making progress and we hope to see a good recovery continue."

San was an avid bicyclist and a member of the Junior ROTC, playing in the drum corps.