Judge raises bail to $150,000; next court date set for Feb. 4.
SAN DIEGO, CA — A 32-year-old woman accused of striking and killing a 6-year-old boy on a bicycle in Pacific Beach, then driving off, pleaded not guilty Tuesday at the downtown Central Courthouse. The hearing capped a 10-day span that began with the Jan. 17 crash in a residential alley near Ingraham Street and Pacific Beach Drive.
The case has gripped a coastal neighborhood where families bike to bayside parks and schools. Prosecutors say the driver, identified as Tiffany Sanchez, turned into a narrow alley midafternoon and hit the child, identified by relatives as Hudson Stephen O’Loughlin. The District Attorney’s Office added a gross vehicular manslaughter charge to an initial hit-and-run allegation before Tuesday’s arraignment, and a judge increased bail from $50,000 to $150,000 following arguments from both sides. If Sanchez is released, the court ordered a GPS ankle monitor and barred her from driving. The defense told the court she is a mother of two and described anxiety and panic attacks; prosecutors countered that her license has been suspended for years and called her a flight risk.
Shortly after 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 17, Hudson was riding with his parents nearby when a Jeep SUV turned into the alley, according to prosecutors and witness accounts described in court. After the initial impact, the driver paused for several seconds and then accelerated southbound, running over the boy while fleeing, a deputy district attorney said. Hudson was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police later located the SUV in National City and detained Sanchez. In court, Deputy District Attorney Cassidy McWilliams told the judge, “The defendant did not stop, she did not render aid, she did not assess the situation or try to help out … she did not call 911.” Inside the courtroom, residents from Pacific Beach held posters with the first-grader’s photo, and several quietly wept as the charges were read. A Superior Court judge, Steven Stone, granted the prosecution’s request to raise bail and remanded Sanchez into custody at the end of the hearing.
Prosecutors allege Sanchez was driving without a valid license, which has been suspended since 2017, and noted that she is additionally cited for driving without a license. The complaint now includes felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing death. Officials said alcohol is not suspected. The court ordered that, if Sanchez posts the higher bail, she must wear a GPS monitor and is forbidden from driving. The boy’s family has retained civil attorney Andre Bollinger, who said outside the courthouse that his firm is investigating whether others could share responsibility, including any potential vehicle owner or parties responsible for the alley and surrounding roadway. “We’re heartened to see that the District Attorney’s Office has brought a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter,” Bollinger said, adding that the parents are “devastated.” Neighbors at the scene and later at the memorial described the stretch as a busy cut-through where speeding is common. One resident said more stop signs and flashing beacons are needed near the nearby elementary school.
Hudson was a first-grade student at McKinley Elementary School in North Park. Family and friends described him as curious and energetic, with a love for science, BMX and swimming. A growing memorial of flowers, stuffed animals and children’s drawings lines the alley mouth near Pacific Beach Drive, just blocks from Mission Bay. In the days after the crash, parents guided children past the site on scooters and bikes while pausing to read hand-written notes. Residents say the North Crown Point neighborhood has seen near-misses and crashes in recent years as traffic has increased around Ingraham Street, a major north–south corridor. Local safety advocates have pointed to city data showing high-injury corridors near the bay and say the alley-grid in older beach neighborhoods funnels drivers toward narrow passages that lack signage and visibility.
Procedurally, Sanchez faces a criminal case that now includes a felony manslaughter count and a felony hit-and-run causing death. The judge scheduled the next hearing for Feb. 4. Prosecutors said the maximum exposure on the current counts is six years in state prison if she is convicted of all charges, though sentencing would depend on findings and any future enhancements. The court’s orders bar her from operating any vehicle and require GPS monitoring if bail is posted. Meanwhile, Bollinger said the boy’s parents are weighing civil options and have begun gathering records tied to the SUV and the alley. Any civil filing would be separate from the criminal case and would move on its own timetable. San Diego police continue to ask witnesses or residents with cameras facing the alley to contact investigators as they finalize the collision reconstruction report.
On Tuesday, emotions filled the courtroom. A Pacific Beach resident, Lindsay Chilson, said she arrived soon after the crash and “saw the sweet little boy on the ground,” a scene she called devastating. Outside, neighbors spoke in low tones next to poster boards with photos of Hudson on his small bike and a cluster of sunflowers taped to a street sign. Some residents voiced frustration about drivers cutting through alleys to avoid lights on Ingraham; others quietly hugged the boy’s parents. A safety advocate placed reflective tape near the alley mouth as dusk fell, while a father wheeled a child’s bike up to the memorial and clipped a note to the handlebar: “We will remember you.”
As of Wednesday morning, Sanchez remained in custody on the increased bail. Police said the investigation is ongoing. The court set Feb. 4 as the next appearance, when attorneys are expected to address scheduling and discovery. The memorial on Pacific Beach Drive continued to grow overnight.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.