A San Mateo County civil jury has returned a verdict in a wrongful death case arising from a Nov. 4, 2022 crash on El Camino Real in Redwood City that killed a San Carlos couple and left their twin daughters without parents. The jury found Cesar Morales, who was 17 at the time of the crash, liable for $33 million in damages. The case also involved another driver, Kyle Harrison, who was later sentenced in a separate proceeding and subsequently died in custody. The civil trial addressed the circumstances of the crash, allegations of street racing, and—according to an announcement about the verdict—claims regarding the role of Morales’ parents in light of warnings about their son’s driving history.
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 Ammon, 44, who was also identified in accounts as Greg Ammen. Their twin daughters, then seven years old, were in the car at the time and survived, leaving them without parents. Another account of the circumstances stated that the parents were killed while their vehicle was turning left on El Camino Real when Cesar Morales, then 17, was engaged in a street race and struck the Ammen vehicle.
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.” The case has been described as drawing widespread attention and focusing on the question of 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 on July 22. The jury heard evidence that Cesar Morales was driving 105–110 mph on the night of the deaths. Jurors also heard that Morales had a prior citation for driving over 100 mph, and the parents testified that they knew nothing about that citation. The car involved in the crash was registered to Cesar Morales.
In connection with the civil case, an Aug. 11, 2026 announcement by Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy stated that a San Mateo County jury awarded $33 million to two 11-year-old girls whose parents were killed in the Nov. 4, 2022 crash. That announcement further stated that Morales’ parents, Arnold Morales and Susana Salto Alvarez, were found liable for ignoring warnings about their son’s driving history. Arnold Morales did not respond to a request for comment by press time. The announcement also stated that the case gained widespread attention and centered on 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, he was ordered to serve 90 days on electronic home monitoring and remain on probation for up to a year. The record provided also states that Morales had already spent nearly two years in juvenile detention before his release to home monitoring.
Kyle Harrison, the other driver referenced in connection with the race, was convicted of two counts of vehicular manslaughter and felony street racing and was sentenced in February 2025 to eight years in prison. Harrison later died in custody in March at the Maple Street Correctional Center. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office determined that his death was caused by an accidental overdose of methadone, amitriptyline and gabapentin. The civil jury’s verdict, by contrast, imposed monetary liability and included findings described in an announcement regarding the role of Morales and, separately, his parents.
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 described the litigation as focusing on responsibility parents have for their teenage children, and stated that Arnold Morales and Susana Salto Alvarez were found liable for ignoring warnings about their son’s driving history. In that context, the proceedings highlighted evidence presented at trial regarding high-speed driving on the night of the crash, a prior citation for driving over 100 mph, and the parents’ testimony that they were unaware of the 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.” While the verdict cannot alter the underlying events, it formally assigns civil liability and damages tied to the facts presented to the jury in this wrongful death action.
