A man accused of driving under the influence, fatally striking a toddler in City Heights, then fleeing the scene, pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and other charges.
Margarito Vargas Angeles, 45, was arrested Saturday evening, almost three hours after the traffic fatality that killed Annaleeh Rodarte, who family members said was about 19 months old.
Angeles faces a second-degree murder count -- which carries a potential 15-year-to-life prison term -- due to a misdemeanor San Diego County DUI conviction from 2016.
He's also charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI, hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license.
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Police said Angeles sped off after the 1999 Toyota 4Runner he was driving struck the girl in the 3900 block of Redwood Street. Paramedics took the child to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A witness provided officers with the suspect's license-plate number, and they tracked down Angeles in the 7100 block of Peter Pan Avenue in Bay Terraces and took him into custody shortly after 9:30 p.m., according to Lt. Adam Sharki of the San Diego Police Department.
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Angeles remains held without bail following his Friday morning arraignment and is due back in court next week.
The deceased's family will hold a bake sale Friday to raise money for the girl's funeral.
