The 21-year-old man accused of a fatal hit and run accident that occurred this month near ucsc, pleaded not guilty today to the charges. Santa cruz resident elliot dess is accused of felony vehicular manslaughter, as well as felony hit and run; he is allegedly the driver who struck and killed 25-year-old Zachary parke on empire grade road, before leaving the scene. He remains in custody, on 100-thousand dollars’ bail. Dess is set to return to court on july 18th. Parke, who was biking at the time, was found dead on the morning of june 8th.
