Driver accused of killing Coastside teens to plead guilty

Patrick Worden, the Santa Rosa man accused of killing two Coastside teens while driving drunk, plans to plead guilty, reports the County Times. He is charged two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. His car struck Ashley Prather, 16, and Jihan Abdel-Gawad, 18, when they were waiting for help at the side of the road.

Abdel-Gawad lived in Half Moon Bay’s Mirimar community and was attending Skyline College, where she played for the women’s soccer team. Friends said Abel-Gawad had a turbulent youth marked by gangs and substance abuse, but turned her life around to become a model student-athlete. She was Serramonte Del Rey High School’s 2005 valedictorian.

Prather was a longtime friend of Abel-Gawad who recently had moved from Half Moon Bay to Seaside in Monterey County.

The deputy district attorney requested the plea be delayed until more of the victims’ family members could be present.