Twins who lost their parents in a fatal street racing collision in 2022 have been awarded $33 million in damages. A jury in San Mateo County found Cesar Morales, then 17, and his father, Arnold Morales, largely responsible for the crash that killed Greg Ammen, 44, and Grace Spiridon, 42.
Morgan and Olivia Ammen were seven years old when their parents died. They survived the collision but were later adopted by their aunt, Liza Spiridon, who filed a wrongful death suit in 2023. The jury's verdict came after a nearly three-week trial.
The Collision
The crash occurred in November 2022 when Morales, driving a Mercedes-Benz at speeds estimated between 80 and 100 mph, slammed into the victims' Chevrolet Bolt. The couple had been just five minutes from their San Carlos, California, home. The impact sent their vehicle approximately 100 feet, killing Ammen and Spiridon instantly. The jury determined that Morales and Kyle Harrison, the other driver involved in the race, were negligent and that their actions were a substantial factor in the harm caused to the twins.
Kyle Harrison, who was 23 at the time of the crash, pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter and racing Morales. He was sentenced to eight years in state prison in February 2025 but died in his jail cell a month later. His death was attributed to an accidental overdose.
Jury's Determination of Liability
Jurors assigned 60% of the fault to Cesar Morales, 20% to his father Arnold Morales, 15% to Harrison, and 5% to Morales's mother, Susana Salto Alvarez. The jury found Morales's parents negligent in supervising their son, believing they should have been aware of his dangerous driving habits, but not for entrusting him with the vehicle. The total awarded includes nearly $19 million in economic damages and $7 million each in non-economic damages for the loss of parental companionship.
Philip Segal, an attorney for Arnold Morales and Alvarez, called the verdict against the parents a "travesty," arguing there was no credible evidence they knew their son was unfit to drive. He stated it was an impulsive decision by a 17-year-old, sending the wrong message.
Morales was criminally convicted of manslaughter and street racing, receiving a 90-day home detention sentence. His parents are pursuing separate litigation against the city and county, alleging authorities improperly characterized the collision as street racing and violated his constitutional rights. That case has been sent to federal court.
Impact on the Twins
Liza Spiridon stated that the verdict brings a measure of justice and clarity to the family, emphasizing that her sister and brother-in-law were devoted parents whose daughters were their world. The twins have undergone extensive trauma therapy following the crash, experiencing night terrors and distress when encountering triggers related to the incident. They now live with their aunt.
The legal proceedings also involved attempts by the defense to blame the victims' mother, Grace Spiridon, for turning left in front of the speeding vehicles. The jury's rejection of this claim was seen as significant by the family's attorney, highlighting that Grace was an innocent victim.