CR Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Police Chase

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Apr 14, 2009 at 2:30 PM CST

Story Updated: Apr 14, 2009 at 2:30 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) - A Cedar Rapids woman charged with vehicular homicide after a cab driver was killed during a police chase has pleaded not guilty.

A written plea was entered on behalf of Connie Gates on Tuesday morning. No trial date was immediately set.

Police say the 36-year-old Gates was driving a stolen car that ran a red light and crashed into a taxi driven by 76-year-old Richard Dankert last month. He died later at a hospital.

Gates is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, felony vehicle theft, driving without insurance, possession of crack cocaine and marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gates remains held in the Linn County jail under $100,000 bond.

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