SAN DIEGO - A young man whose blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when he allegedly ran over a pedestrian in Pacific Beach pleaded not guilty today to DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.

Daniel Scott Hall, 18, allegedly swerved to miss a row of cars near the intersection of Garnet Avenue and Haines Street, then struck 25-year-old Christopher McCallister just before midnight Saturday.

The victim, who was going to law school in San Diego, was crossing the street with his two roommates when he was struck almost head-on and thrown into the windshield of Hall's Toyota Celica, said Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey.

McCallister was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The roommates made it safely across the street, but Hall narrowly missed one of them, the prosecutor said.

A witness in the neighborhood noticed a car with a smashed windshield, saw the accident scene and called 911, the prosecutor said.

Officers stopped Hall's car 10 minutes later at Interstate 5 and Sea World Drive and he was taken into custody, authorities said.

Hall's blood-alcohol level was .23 percent after the accident, Harvey told Judge David Szumowski. The legal limit is .08.

Defense attorney Scott Williams said Hall and his father wanted to express their remorse for what happened.

"This is a tragic situation, and there are no winners here," the attorney told the judge.

Williams said Hall - who has no criminal record - lives at home with his parents. His mother is gravely ill and depends on him to care for her, the lawyer said.

Hall's employer described the defendant as a "magnificent worker" who is welcome back on the job, his attorney said.

Szumowski, noting that Hall faces a substantial penalty if convicted, set bail at $250,000.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant would fae a maximum term of 13 years and eight months in state prison if found guilty.

The judge ordered the defendant not to drink or drive, and to attend daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings if he makes bail.

A bail review was scheduled for July 6, along with an Aug. 10 readiness conference and Aug. 23 preliminary hearing.