The driver who spent four months in a coma after allegedly causing a crash that killed a local photojournalist and her teenage daughter will appear in court this afternoon after police arrested him Friday on two counts of vehicular manslaughter and one count of driving on the wrong side of the wrong.
Wen Tu Mei, 37, faces seven years and four months in prison if ultimately convicted of killing San Francisco Examiner photographer Susan Caldwell, 41, and her 14-year-old daughter Nina Garrison.
Prosecutors filed an arrest warrant in March for Mei but weren't sure if he'd ever physically recover well enough to stand trial for the late January crash. On Friday, Wei was released from the hospital and arrested by South San Francisco police, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
As of Monday afternoon, Mei remained in custody at San Mateo County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Mei was driving the minivan that collided head-on with Caldwell's 2000 Honda Accord on Bayshore Boulevard in South San Francisco on Jan. 30. Mei was evidently driving south in the northbound lane when the crash occurred about 2:05 p.m. Caldwell died at the scene and Garrison died later at a hospital. Mei remained hospitalized with his own severe injuries.
From very early on, police expected to arrest Mei for some level of responsibility in the deaths of Caldwell and Garrison, Wagstaffe said.
If convicted, Mei will serve at least 50 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Investigators found no evidence of alcohol or drug use in the crash.
"It seems like he was just not paying attention to driving," Wagstaffe.
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Thomas Morgan said:
Doug North Central said:
Doug North Central said:
Thomas Morgan said:
Palm ave. is an industrial area where many residents feel is more appropriate. Thank you Lisa for your work on this very important issue.
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