A motorist, who is charged with killing Bernard Piotrowski, a well-known member of the GLBT community, will stand trial Oct. 9 for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit and run.

Piotrowski, 50, of La Mesa, was killed March 19 while walking on a sidewalk in the 6800 block of University Avenue around 4 p.m. when a black Acura jumped the curb at nearly 85 mph and crashed into a small church. Piotrowski’s arm was severed and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

The driver, Keith Terez Johnson, 27, of San Diego, claimed he was being chased by someone, although no one saw any other vehicle in pursuit of him.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Leo Valentine Jr. conducted the preliminary hearing on May 10 and ordered him to stand trial on both charges. Johnsons’ trial date was set on May 24.

If Johnson is convicted, he faces up to 11 years in state prison.

He has pleaded not guilty and remains in county jail on $500,000 bail.

Piotrowski was a volunteer for Mama’s Kitchen and worked with many GLBT organizations. His memorial service at his church, Universal Spirit Center, in Mission Hills, was packed with many friends and acquaintances. He was also a member of Front Runners & Walkers San Diego, a running and walking club for lesbians and gay men.

Margie Limon, a bus driver, was the last person to talk to Piotrowski after he asked her if her bus was going toward La Mesa. She testified he had just missed the bus to La Mesa. Piotrowski said he would walk instead. Less than a minute later, she said, the Acura sped by her bus and struck him.

Limon said Piotrowski “never knew” what hit him, as his back was to the speeding Acura. She notified dispatchers about the accident and went outside. Piotrowski’s body was thrown onto private property and his arm was found about 10 feet away.

Scott Bell, a skateboarder who saw the accident, testified that he rushed to help Piotrowski, who was lying face down and bleeding heavily from the shoulder. Bell said he detected a very faint pulse and applied pressure to the shoulder. He said Piotrowski’s only movement was to try to open one eye.

San Diego Police officer Donald Albright, who works in accident reconstruction, said the tire measurements, skid marks and other factors indicated to him that the car’s speed was 82 mph when it struck Piotrowski.

Billy Dixon, a resident who lived nearby, testified he ran into Johnson shortly after the crash. He said he noticed blood on Johnson’s shirt.

“He stated to me, ‘Somebody’s trying to kill [me].’ He was nervous. He was scared, hyper,” Dixon said.

The Acura slammed into the Belief in God Ministries church on 69th Street and severed a natural gas line. Witnesses testified they heard hissing and a veterinary hospital located next door had to evacuate 10 animals and their own owners. San Diego Gas & Electric crews came out to cap the gas line and vented out any residual gas.