Trial Begins For Woman Accused Of Laguna Beach Hit-And-Run That Killed 60-Year-Old Man

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A 22-year-old woman told her passengers she was going to speed up and was driving about double the limit when she slammed into a couple walking across the street in Laguna Beach, killing a man, before fleeing, a prosecutor argued Wednesday as the defendant's attorney said the collision was an accident.

Sysillia Kianna Morrison Montes De Oca is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, hit and run with permanent and serious injury and failing to stop at a hit and run with injury or death, all felonies.

She also faces a sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter.

Jurors may also consider lesser charges of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

Morrison Montes De Oca is accused of killing 60-year-old Stanley Isaacs of Costa Mesa on Aug. 11, 2022. His wife, Catherina, was also injured in the collision.

The collision happened just before 9:40 p.m. at South Coast Highway and Peal Street.

The defendant was driving a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta when she struck the couple crossing the street, according to police.

Before the collision, the defendant told the three other passengers in the car she planned to speed up, Deputy District Attorney Justin Kim said.

The prosecutor said she returned to the crime scene later with her friend and later did searches online about deadly hit and runs and for a TV station, Kim said.

Kim argued that "it was not an ordinary mistake," because she was speeding and had smoked marijuana that evening.

"We all know she fled the scene," Kim said.

Stanley Isaacs suffered an "internal decapitation" as well as a skull fracture, a snapped spine and "smashed ribs," Kim said. The collision sent the victim tumbling through the air, he added.

The couple "almost survived" and got across the street at the crosswalk before the collision, Kim said.

Co-defendant Jack Francis Bannigan pleaded guilty July 9 to being an accessory after the fact for concealing the damaged car. He was sentenced to one year of information probation and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service, according to court records.

Defense attorney Mike Molfetta fired back that there was no evidence in the trial that his client was smoking marijuana in the car.

The group of friends "had a pizza" earlier and were driving to a beach in Aliso Viejo for night swimming, Molfetta said. They had smoked marijuana earlier but it was unclear how much time had elapsed from then until the collision, he said.

" There's not a single shred of testimony they were smoking in the car," Molfetta said.

An expert who testified about how fast the car was going was providing an "estimate," Molfetta said.

"It's a complete waste of time because at best it gives you an estimate," he argued. "You're not here to guess. It's about what was proven beyond a reasonable doubt."

Molfetta also attacked the prosecution's argument there was a large beach crowd the night of the crash.

"He needs it to be busy because a dark, empty street means there's no gross negligence," Molfetta argued.

The defense attorney showed the prosecutions photos from the crash scene to underscore his point the area was not highly populated.

Molfetta argued the prosecution was trying to smear the defendant to pave the way for a conviction.

"They need you to hate her to get a conviction," Molfetta said.

The defense attorney accused the prosecutor of "making stuff up" to make his case.

Morrison Montes De Oca was a couple of months shy of her 19th birthday and had just started driving, Molfetta said.

She was "catatonic" after the collision and left the scene at the urging of her friends in the car, Molfetta said.

The defendant ultimately turned herself in to police.

Molfetta also pointed out the video from the scene showed another driver making an illegal U-turn that may have been a distraction.

"How fast was she going?" Molfetta asked. "We don't know. Nobody knows and you sure as heck don't know."