Actress Pleads Not Guilty to Leaving Scene of Accident

BEVERLY HILLS —  Actress Halle Berry, through a lawyer, pleaded not guilty Friday to leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor that could lead to a year in jail if she is convicted.

Attorney Blair Berk entered the plea during arraignment before Superior Court Judge Charles G. Rubin, who set April 21 for a pretrial hearing. The actress, who is free on her own recognizance, wasn’t in court.

The prosecution claims Berry, 31, was behind the wheel of a rented Chevrolet Blazer that ran a red light and struck another vehicle on Feb. 23 in West Hollywood. The Blazer then left the scene of the crash, authorities said.

The Golden Globe-winning star of the TV miniseries “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” was cut on the forehead in the crash, and the driver of the other vehicle--which was a total loss--suffered a broken wrist and other injuries.

That motorist, Hetal Raythatha, filed a lawsuit accusing Berry of negligence and infliction of emotional distress. The suit, claiming Raythatha was permanently disabled by the crash, seeks unspecified damages.

Raythatha, 27, also said in her lawsuit that she believes Berry was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the crash occurred. Allan Mayer, a spokesman for the actress, denied the allegation.