On Aug. 11, 2026, a San Mateo County civil jury awarded $33 million to twin girls whose parents were killed in a Nov. 4, 2022 crash on El Camino Real in Redwood City. The girls were seven years old at the time of the crash.
The wrongful death case involved Cesar Morales, who was 17 at the time of the collision, his parents, Arnold Morales and Susana Salto Alvarez, and Kyle Harrison, another driver involved in the alleged street race. Jurors found the defendants liable and apportioned fault among Morales, his parents, and Harrison.
Crash Allegations and the Family Impact
The crash occurred on Nov. 4, 2022, on El Camino Real in Redwood City and killed Grace Spiridon, 42, and Gregory “Greg” Ammen, 44. Their twin daughters, then seven years old, were in the car involved in the crash and survived, leaving them without parents.
Accounts of the crash stated that the family’s vehicle was turning left on El Camino Real when Morales, then 17, struck it while participating in a street race. Reporting indicated that Morales was traveling at more than 100 mph before the collision.
In a press release, the twins’ maternal aunt and adoptive mother, Maria-Liza Spiridon, stated: “Our focus remains on helping these girls heal while honoring the beautiful lives of both Grace and Greg.” A statement from Mothers Against Murder, an organization described as advocating for victims’ rights, emphasized the limitations of any legal outcome, stating, “No verdict can restore what was taken.”
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, counsel for the plaintiffs, characterized the case in its announcement as having gained widespread attention and as focusing in part on parental responsibility for teenage drivers.
Civil Trial Evidence and the $33 Million Verdict
The civil verdict followed a three-week jury trial in San Mateo County Superior Court in South San Francisco that began July 22, 2026. Jurors heard evidence regarding high-speed driving on the night of the crash, including evidence that Morales was traveling approximately 105–110 mph.
Jurors also heard evidence that Morales had previously received a citation for driving more than 100 mph. His parents testified that they did not know about that citation.
An Aug. 11, 2026 announcement by Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy stated that the San Mateo County jury awarded $33 million to the two girls. The announcement further stated that Morales’ parents, Arnold Morales and Susana Salto Alvarez, were found liable in connection with allegations that they failed to respond appropriately to warning signs concerning their son’s driving history.
Reported accounts of the verdict described the claims against Morales’ parents as involving negligent supervision. The law firm’s announcement also characterized the case as addressing how much responsibility parents have for their teenage children.
Related Juvenile and Criminal Proceedings
The civil case proceeded against the backdrop of earlier juvenile proceedings involving Cesar Morales. Morales was adjudicated in juvenile court, where a judge found true two felony vehicular manslaughter allegations and three allegations of engaging in a street race causing great bodily injury.
In January 2025, Morales was ordered to serve 90 days on electronic home monitoring and remain on probation for up to a year. Reporting on the juvenile proceedings stated that Morales had already spent more than two years in juvenile detention before his release to home monitoring.
Kyle Harrison, the other driver referenced in connection with the race, pleaded no contest to felony vehicular manslaughter and street-racing charges and was sentenced in February 2025 to eight years in prison.
Harrison later died in custody in March 2025 at the Maple Street Correctional Center. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office determined that his death was caused by an accidental overdose involving methadone, amitriptyline and gabapentin.
The civil jury’s verdict, by contrast, imposed monetary liability based on the evidence presented in the wrongful death action and included findings concerning Morales, his parents, and Harrison.
What the Verdict Signals for Future Litigation
Statements issued after the verdict framed the case as extending beyond the conduct of an individual teenage driver. The Aug. 11, 2026 announcement from plaintiffs’ counsel described the litigation as focusing in part on parental responsibility and stated that Arnold Morales and Susana Salto Alvarez were found liable based on allegations concerning their supervision of their son.
In that context, the proceedings included evidence regarding Morales’ speed on the night of the crash, his prior citation for driving more than 100 mph, and his parents’ testimony that they were unaware of that earlier citation.
Lead trial attorney Niall McCarthy said in a statement, “We are hopeful today’s verdict serves as a wakeup call to Bay Area parents. You cannot ignore warning signs with your teenage children. Parents need to do more than simply provide a car and hope for the best. They need to act when it is apparent their child needs a course correction.”
He added, “Here, tragically, two young girls no longer have parents because of the Morales Family’s decisions.”
The verdict formally assigns civil liability and damages based on the evidence presented in this wrongful death case. It does not establish that parents are automatically liable for a teenager’s dangerous driving, but it reflects the jury’s findings concerning the conduct and supervision at issue in this particular case.
