Appeal-Democrat
YUBA COUNTY, Calif. — A firefighter accused of running over and killing one of his colleagues surrendered on Friday and pleaded not guilty to four felony charges.
Andrew D. Gruenberg, 26, is charged in the death of 32-year-old Forest Service “hotshot” Michael Kelly.
Gruenberg, of San Diego, was charged in Yuba County Superior Court with vehicular manslaughter, two counts of DUI with injury and hit and run.
He arranged to post $100,000 bail before surrendering to the District Attorney’s Office at 11 a.m.
He was booked into Yuba County Jail, attended a court hearing in the afternoon and was released.
Gruenberg is scheduled to appear in court again July 9.
Gruenberg was emotional when he appeared in court while in custody in front of some of his co-workers and Kelly’s family members.
“He was a total wreck,” District Attorney Pat McGrath said.
The Tahoe National Forest firefighter allegedly drove over Kelly, who was lying in the road, after they both attended a party in Camptonville last Nov. 15, according to a declaration of probable cause.
At about 1 a.m., Gruenberg left the party, driving a four-door Hyundai Accent with six passengers, all members of the Tahoe Hotshots Crew stationed in Yuba County.
In an interview with law enforcement, Gruenberg admitted running over Kelly, the declaration said, and acknowledged consuming alcohol at the party.
His blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was estimated at .20 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.
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