A 21-year-old San Diego woman has pleaded guilty to felony DUI charges after prosecutors say she drove a BMW onto a pedestrian path at Liberty Station and slammed into a 5-year-old riding a scooter. The Sept. 6, 2025 crash left the child with life-threatening injuries and has renewed local scrutiny of safety in the busy Point Loma waterfront complex.
Savannah Monique Taylor admitted on Wednesday to DUI causing injury and to driving with a blood-alcohol content over .08%, and she also acknowledged allegations that she inflicted great bodily injury and that the offense occurred while she was out on bail in a separate case, according to NBC San Diego. Prosecutors say Taylor drove a 2018 BMW 335i onto a courtyard on Laning Road near the USS Recruit at Liberty Station, tearing through landscaping and a steel bench before striking the child and crashing into a tree. Witnesses told reporters the scene was chaotic and that bystanders rushed to help the youngster as first responders arrived.
Case history and evidence presented in court
Courtroom filings and earlier hearings detailed the initial investigation and the severity of the victim's injuries, including testimony that the girl required emergency brain surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma, as reported by the Times of San Diego. Prosecutors and officers photographing the scene also documented extensive landscaping damage and a near-empty bottle of cognac found in the vehicle. Other local coverage has reported a blood-alcohol reading above the legal limit hours after the crash. A judge later revoked Taylor’s bail after prosecutors pointed to prior alcohol-related incidents in her record.
Sentencing and possible penalties
Court documents indicate Taylor faces a state-prison term of seven to nine years when she is sentenced, which is scheduled for June 4, according to NBC San Diego. The guilty plea settles the immediate criminal question but not the outcome. Prosecutors have highlighted aggravating facts, including the extent of the child’s injuries and the allegation that Taylor was on bail for another matter, which could influence whether the judge chooses the higher end of the potential sentence.
Local context and safety concerns
Liberty Station is a popular waterfront destination with pedestrian courtyards and a steady flow of families and visitors, and the crash reignited debate over vehicle access and pedestrian protections in the area. Local reporting has noted other serious traffic incidents around Liberty Station in recent years, prompting calls from neighborhood groups for stepped-up enforcement and design changes to keep sidewalks and plazas clearly separated from vehicle traffic. The Times of San Diego has covered prior hearings and the community reaction.
With sentencing set for June 4, the case now heads to a judge to determine the final term and any enhancements tied to the admitted great bodily injury allegations. Court records and local news reports remain the key sources for updates in the coming weeks, with developments expected to appear in public filings and court calendars.
