A preliminary hearing has been postponed to October for a Bakersfield woman accused of being on her cellphone when she reportedly struck and killed an 8-year-old boy.

Judith Deval, 40, was allegedly returning to work from her lunch break on the afternoon of Oct. 16, 2024, when she stopped at the intersection of Bank Street and Holtby Road.

Kids from Roosevelt Elementary School were walking in the area, and Deval says the victim “came out of nowhere.” Deval reportedly stopped her car after hitting the boy and got out, accidentally put her car in reverse instead of park, and backed over Ricardo Aguilar who died the next day.

Deval’s attorney told the judge Tuesday he needs more time to review evidence provided by the prosecution.

Deval is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.