John Peder Harris is due back at the Contra Costa County's Superior Court in Martinez Wednesday morning after the case was pushed up from an April 12 appearance.
Harris, 32, of Walnut Creek, on March 7 to two counts of vehicle manslaughter with gross negligence.
On Nov. 7, according to a Danville Police investigation, Harris was traveling west on Sycamore Valley Road in a Toyota 4-Runner when he ran a red light at the Brookside Drive intersection, hitting a Dodge Durango and .
Harris was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for his role in the .
Elham Pirdavari, 51, of Danville, was driving the Durango and her mother, Mahin Dowlati, 72, also of Danville, was in the passenger seat. Both women were killed in the accident. A memorial for the two victims is still set up at the northwest corner of the intersection.
. A lengthy investigation by the Danville Police stated that the Walnut Creek man had a medical condition.
That medical condition, Contra Costa Deputy District Attorney Alison Chandler said, was a seizure disorder.
Due to the medical information in the transcripts and the evidence, the grand jury sealed the documents, Chandler said.
As a result, Harris' defense attorney had not seen any of it at the time Harris' not guilty plea, she said.
Whether the seizure disorder had something to do with the collision is still in question, however. Chandler said there are three factors that lead to the Nov. 7 collision.
"The factors include running a red light, speeding, and a seizure disorder,"
Chandler said Harris was going at least 62 mph when the cars collided. She added that Harris' license was valid and there were no restrictions placed on it.
Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins said the department's investigation showed no extraneous factors, such as texting, cell phone use or alcohol use, were involved in the accident.
“We believe this accident was caused by a negligent decision to drive, which resulted in tragedy,” Simpkins said.
If convicted of these two charges, Harris could face up to seven years and four months in prison. Chandler said the counts could not be merged into each other and Harris would have to serve time for each charge individually.
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