Campbell woman pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter

SAN MATEO COUNTY – A 24-year-old Campbell woman has pleaded not guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and other charges filed against her in connection with a wrong-way collision last month on Interstate 280 near Woodside, prosecutors said.

Constellatia Martin, who was arraigned Thursday, also pleaded not guilty to DUI causing injury, hit-and-run and driving on the wrong side of the road, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

The crash was reported April 22 on southbound I-280 just north of the Woodside Road exit.

Prosecutors said Martin was driving the wrong way on the freeway and collided head-on with a BMW, killing 54-year-old San Francisco resident Eden Palmer and injuring her 14-year-old son.

Martin is accused of running from the scene. California Highway Patrol officers found her naked lying down in a grassy area about 150 yards away, according to the district attorney’s office.

Martin reportedly screamed out bizarre statements. Prosecutors said she also had red and watery eyes and rapid speech, but she refused to take sobriety tests or answer officers’ questions. The results of a blood alcohol concentration test are pending.

According to an online fundraiser, Palmer was driving her son to a soccer match when the collision occurred.

“Her youngest suffered massive internal injuries and while making a miraculous recovery, he will have a lifetime of care needs,” GoFundMe fundraiser organizer Sue Kalache wrote. “He and Eden shared dreams of him attending college — they were making plans for college tours. We want to make sure their dreams are fulfilled.”

As of Friday night, the fundraiser had raised $184,860, nearly double its $100,000 goal.

Prosecutors said Martin is scheduled to return to court on July 18 for a preliminary hearing. She is being held without bail at the Maple Street Correctional Center in Redwood City.