Woman pleads not guilty in traffic death of 5-year-old

<p>A Rohnert Park woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to vehicular manslaughter in an April crash that killed a 5-year-old boy and injured another passenger.</p><p>Brandi Hanley, 32, accused of ramming her SUV into a stopped vehicle while driving on a suspended license, appeared briefly with family members.</p><p>A settlement conference was set for Oct. 22. Prosecutors asked for an in-chambers meeting with Judge Elliot Daum before the next hearing.</p><p>Hanley is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in the evening April 28 crash at Guerneville and Marlow roads in west Santa Rosa.</p><p>She was driving a Ford Explorer when the SUV struck the rear of a Toyota Matrix at about 40 mph, police said. The impact sent the smaller vehicle across the intersection, where it slammed into a metal utility pole.</p><p>Five-year-old Addison Branson, who was in the back seat of the Matrix, was killed. Passenger Jennifer Welch, 55, was seriously injured. The boy<WC>'<WC1>s father, Albert Branson, 52, who was driving, suffered minor injuries.</p><p>Police said Hanley was driving on a suspended license, the result of a medical condition.</p><p>Hanley told officers she didn't realize the light was red and other cars weren't moving.</p>