An East County judge ruled Friday that a young woman will stand trial on charges of causing a head-on crash on Buckman Springs Road that killed a federal firefighter on his motorcycle.

Natasia Wood, 22, is charged with felony manslaughter in the death of Darin Steffey, 37. She’s accused of speeding and hitting the U.S. Forest Service firefighter’s motorcycle about 6:15 p.m. Oct. 3, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Darin Steffey, a federal firefighter killed in October 2013. A woman, 22, will stand trial in his death. Photo credit: CBS8.com.
Darin Steffey, a federal firefighter killed in October 2013. A woman, 22, will stand trial in his death. Photo credit: CBS8.com.

The defendant was traveling north on Buckman Springs Road going more than 70 mph when her 2008 Dodge Durango drifted to the right shoulder and she overcompensated. She steered the SUV directly into the path of Steffey’s southbound motorcycle as he headed home from work, said CHP Officer Kevin Pearlstein. Steffey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Steffey was a career firefighter with the Forest Service and was assigned to the department’s Glencliff station on Old Highway 80.

Wood faces 6 years in prison in Steffey’s death.

– City News Service