Wrong-way driver maintains not-guilty plea in deadly crash

The wrong-way driver charged with killing a Yuba City woman on the 10th Street Bridge in June appeared in Yuba County Superior Court on Wednesday.

John Xiong, 30, of Olivehurst, was arrested Aug. 16 and charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence causing injury, and a special allegation of great bodily injury. On Aug. 17, he pleaded not guilty.

Just before 1 a.m. June 21, Xiong was driving east over the 10th Street Bridge in the westbound lane from Market Street, according to court documents, when he collided with a vehicle driven by Trysha Graff, 29, who died in the crash. Her boyfriend, Pablo Gutierrez, who was a passenger, suffered serious injuries and has since been released from the hospital. Graff had two young children.

Xiong also spent time in the hospital and was released weeks later. His blood alcohol content was measured at 0.192 – more than two times the legal limit – according to court documents.

In court Wednesday, Xiong was given new court dates: a pre-hearing conference on Oct. 31 and a preliminary hearing on Nov. 2.

In August, the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office issued a subpoena to the “custodian of records” of Rideout Memorial Hospital, ordering an appearance as a witness or records of admission and treatment of Xiong, court documents show.

The delay in filing charges simply came from waiting for investigation information from Marysville police, Assistant District Attorney John Vacek told the Appealdemocrat last month.