Driver’s license returned

GLENDALE — A Superior Court judge ruled Thursday that 37-year-old Yurie Park, who is charged with manslaughter for the Oct. 29 death of a Toll Middle School student, can have her license back but only to drive to traffic school and take her children to school, and she cannot drive in the city.

Judge Stan Blumenfeld on Dec. 17 ordered the Sun Valley woman to surrender her driver’s license to the court because he said at that time he felt driving would be traumatic for her. He ordered that the court return her license Thursday on the limited conditions.

Blumenfeld does not want Park to drive in “any of the areas in Glendale that she will recall any bad memories and affect her ability to drive.”

Since the accident, Park removed her daughter from Mark Keppel Elementary School and enrolled her in another school, her attorney Alexandra McConnel said, so driving in Glendale would not be necessary.

The traffic school, which Blumenfeld ordered that she attend at least 12 hours of, is also outside the city, he said.

The monthlong restriction on Park’s driving was sufficient, Blumenfeld said.

“This restriction, to me, is inappropriate at this time,” he said.

Park was charged with one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for killing Meri Nalbandyan, who was walking in a marked crosswalk.

Meri’s mother had just dropped her off for school in the 700 block of Glenwood Road.

Park had just dropped off her daughter at the elementary school, which is on the same street.

As she was pulling away, Park turned her head for a few seconds and struck Meri. Park, who was going about 10 mph, immediately stopped, police said.

Meri, a sixth-grader at the middle school, was taken to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead the same day, police said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Norma Serna objected to the release of Park’s license, but she said would agree to allowing Park to drive with restrictions only.

Prosecutors also requested during Thursday’s hearing that a probation report about Park be prepared.

The Los Angeles Count Probation Department is responsible for writing the report, which allows prosecutors to determine whether they can offer Park a plea deal, Serna said.

But in order to prepare the report, officials have to interview Park. That caused McConnel to be concerned.

Blumenfeld approved his request that when probation officials interview Park, they do not question her about the accident at the middle school.

Probation officials will instead ask her questions about her children, community involvement and her background, Serna said.

Prosecutors on Thursday also turned over evidence to Park’s attorney.

The evidence included an autopsy report and five CDs containing video footage of the middle school, a video clips of a detective interviewing Park, an interview with Meri’s mother and autopsy photos, Deputy Dist. Atty. Matthew Henning said.

A pretrial hearing for Park is scheduled for Feb. 26 in the Superior Court.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.