Guilty plea in death of Cardinals fan near ballpark

A 20-year-old South Philadelphia man pleaded guilty today to vehicular homicide for plowing into two St. Louis Cardinals fans outside Citizens Bank Park in July 2008.

The two women from Missouri had traveled here for a Phillies-Cardinals game and were crossing the street when Joseph Genovese ran a red light at Broad Street while drunk, authorities said.

Cindy Grassi, 53, of St. Louis, died. Her friend and fellow elementary schoolteacher, Sandra Wacker, who was then 36, suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent months in recovery.

Genovese, of the 3100 block of S. Juniper Street, also pleaded guilty to vehicular aggravated assault while intoxicated and vehicular homicide while intoxicated.

His sentencing was scheduled for April 13, and he faces 13 1/2 to 27 years in prison.