Lakeport man, Jeremy David Morgan, 31, was in custody and appeared at the Lake County Superior Court facing charges of gross vehicular manslaughter.
Morgan has been charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, DUI (causing injury) and driving with a suspended license.
The charges stem from an incident in January when Morgan was placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs following an accident on Highway 20 near Paradise Valley that caused major injuries.
California Highway Patrol officers took Morgan, into custody. Two of his passengers — residents of Lakeport and Nice — suffered severe injuries to the head and neck and were transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
The driver and infant passenger of a second vehicle involved were not severely hurt.
According to CHP officer Piers Pritt, Morgan was heading west on Highway 20 near the intersection of Cora Drive, between Lucerne and Glenhaven. Around 6:40 p.m., with rain falling lightly, he failed to negotiate a curve.
Morgan reportedly lost control of his Jeep Cherokee as it began to spin entering the turn, skidding into the eastbound lane.
Rounding the curve from the other direction, a second vehicle had no chance to avoid a collision. As a result of the impact, Morgan’s Jeep flipped and slid along the asphalt before coming to a stop.
During a setting hearing last month Defense Attorney Tracy Gatlin requested to drop the bail review hearing as a resolution is being worked on.
The defendant’s bail remains at $500,000.
There will be more discovery submitted on this matter with a disposition hearing set for this week in Department Four.
