Vehicle Plows Into Calif. School Group

(CBS/AP)  Police say they have arrested the driver of a vehicle that barreled onto a sidewalk in Culver City, Calif., Wednesday, killing a teacher and injuring eight middle school students who were on their way back from a field trip.

Authorities say Laura Samayoa, 20, of Los Angeles, was booked for investigation of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run collision involving a fatality.

Sgt. Brian Fitzpatrick says Samayoa told police the crash was caused when her boyfriend grabbed the steering wheel during an argument.

An attorney representing the boyfriend - 19-year-old Reynaldo Cruz - tells a different story and says Cruz told him he didn't grab the car's steering wheel.

"He flatly denies that," says defense attorney Peter Navarro.

Samayoa and Cruz are being held on $400,000 bail. Police say Cruz, who turned himself in late Wednesday, was booked on the same charges as Samayoa.

Police identified the teacher who was killed as a woman who worked at Turning Point School, a private school that enrolls students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

"This is so sad because she was protecting the children," says Karen Nall, a parent whose three children were taught by the victim.

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