Driver May Face Charges in Deaths of 2 Girls

Authorities are considering misdemeanor charges against a pizza delivery driver who allegedly struck and killed two 9-year-old cousins on Halloween as the girls were trick-or-treating, police said Tuesday.

Police Sgt. Glenn Deveney said investigators will ask the Orange County district attorney’s office to charge James Shomo, 21, of Fullerton, with two counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for striking Christina Mach and Alice Lee in a crosswalk.

Deveney said Shomo may be charged because he failed to yield to people in a crosswalk, a violation of the state vehicle code. Shomo--who had an unblemished driving record--faces a year in jail if convicted. The charges against Shomo may be filed today, police said.

Shomo and his family declined to comment Tuesday. Deveney said more serious charges, such as felony vehicular manslaughter, are not expected to be brought against Shomo because there is no evidence he was speeding or driving recklessly.

Police said Christina was dressed in an all-black witch’s costume, which may have hampered the driver’s ability to see the girls in the dimly lit intersection.